2019 07 01 Computer Shopper

CCL Reaper
CCL Reaper G
GT
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• AMD Ryzen 7 2700 3.2GHz
• 16GB 3000MHz DDR4 Desktop Memory
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB
• 256GB NVMe SSD
• 3TB Seagate BarraCuda HDD
• Corsair Carbide 275R TG Case
From £1,227.99 inc VAT
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On all ccl built systems
CCL Computers Ltd, Inmoor Road, Tong, Bradford, BD11 2PS - Prices correct at time of going to publishing (18/04/2019).
WELCOME PAGE
Contact us
Editor Madeline Bennett [email protected]
Reviews Editor James Archer [email protected]
Contributing Editor David Ludlow [email protected]
News Editor Roland Moore-Colyer [email protected]
Senior Staff Writer Nathan Spendelow [email protected]
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Design Bill Bagnall
Production Editor Steve Haines
Production Manager Daniel Stark
Production Assistant Lewis Small
Network Production Manager Kerry Lambird
CONTRIBUTORS
Jonathan Bray, Tom Bruce, Pete Clark, David Crookes, Mel Croucher,
Amy Davies, Kay Ewbank, Simon Handby, Mike Jennings, Alan Martin,
Christopher Minasians, James Morris, Edward Munn, Nik Rawlinson,
Clive Webster
ADVERTISING
G
Email [email protected]
Group Advertising Manager Charlotte Milligan
020 3890 3486 one are the simple days of choosing a
COVER GIFT CONTACT
Chris Wiles [email protected]
smartphone, when the choice used to be a
SUBSCRIPTIONS blue or yellow Nokia handset, and later
Tel: 0330 333 9493 moved on to whether to splash out on a
Email: [email protected]
Web: ManageMyMags.co.uk BlackBerry or an iPhone.
UK £44.99, Europe £70, Rest of world £90
With the rise of Google’s Android operating system,
PHOTOGRAPHY
Michael Pheasant we’re now inundated with all manner of handsets priced
LICENSING AND SYNDICATION from under £100 to over £1,000, from a plethora of
Ryan Chambers 020 3890 4027 [email protected]
Anj Dosaj-Halai 020 3890 3816 [email protected] manufacturers both familiar – Sony and Samsung – and
MANAGEMENT less so – Xiaomi and Honor.
Tel 020 3890 3890
Managing Directoror John Garewal Adding to the complexity is the emergence of two
Group Advertising Director
Newstrade Director
or Julian Lloyd-Evans
or David Barker
new and fast-approaching mobile innovations: 5G and
Group CFO/COO Brett Reynolds foldable phones. Smartphone technology hasn’t gone
Chief Executive James Tye
Company Founder
under Felix Dennis through any major overhauls in the past couple of years,
PRINTING but either – or both – of these technologies has the
Printed by Wyndeham, Bicester, Oxon
Distributors Seymour 020 7429 4000
potential to be the next must-have.
LIABILITY But while 5G and folding phones are on the horizon,
While every care was taken preparing this magazine, the publishers
cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information or
many of us will be coming to the end of our contracts
any consequence arising from it. All judgements are based on equipment sooner than they arrive, or simply in need of a new
available to Computer Shopper at the time of review. ‘Value for money’
comments are based on UK prices at time of review. All prices include handset, leaving us wondering whether to upgrade now
VAT unless otherwise stated.
Computer Shopper takes no responsibility for the content of external
or hold off for one of these new devices.
websites whose addresses are published in the magazine. To help make your decision easier, we’ve assessed the
COMPUTER SHOPPER INCORPORATES UPGRADE SHOPPER, GAMES
SHOPPER, INTERNET SHOPPER, MOBILE SHOPPER, PC SHOPPER,
likely arrival dates and benefits of 5G-compatible and
PORTABLE SHOPPER AND SOFTWARE SHOPPER foldable phones, so you can decide if it’s worth you
A DENNIS PUBLICATION
Computer Shopper is published by Dennis Publishing Ltd,
waiting (p78). For those of you who decide it’s not, we’ve
31-32 Alfred Place, London WC1E 7DP. Company registered in England. tested and compared 18 smartphones that could merit a
All material © Dennis Publishing Limited licensed by Felden 2019, and
may not be reproduced in whole or part without the consent of the more imminent purchase. These range from £99 handsets
publishers. ISSN 0955-8578 to flagship models to premium devices that can be had at
© Copyright Dennis Publishing Limited
bargain prices now they’re a few months old.
We also look back to the golden age of space
exploration and the computers that powered the world’s
first space plane (p110). And I’ve been investigating how
artificial intelligence and drones are helping to protect
endangered species like elephant and rhino by turning the
Subscribe tables on poachers (p116), and enjoying the opportunity
and save to consider the benefits technology can offer our world.
Call us on
0330 333 9493
or see page 126 Madeline Bennett
Bennett, Edito
Editor
[email protected]
ISSUE 377 | COMPUTER SHOPPER

PPER
R | JULY 2019 3
CONTENTS
Issue 377 July 2019
Contents
p132
p78
p122
p110
Features
Regulars News
6 Letters All the latest news and views from the
Your monthly missives of wit and wisdom, technology world, including:
tips and tricks, and moans and groans
14 News Round-up
Acer unveils its new range of desktops and
8 Mel’s World laptops aimed at creative professionals;
110 It is Rocket Science, Actually
The nation is divided, and not only because and Sony’s PlayStation 5 set to bring the Almost 40 years after the launch of the first
of Brexit. The gap between the digital haves latest PC tech to gaming consoles Space Shuttle, Nik Rawlinson looks back at
and have nots is enormous and growing ever the systems and the software that helped to
wider all the time, argues Mel Croucher 16 From The Lab power the world’s first space plane
In-depth coverage of all the latest scientific
10 Kay’s Corner and technological advances
A new standard that uses hardware 17 The Lowdown: Google Stadia 116 Keeping it Wild
authentication to get around the problem of Google attempts to shake up the gaming Madeline Bennett
weak passwords could help to boost online world with its new streaming service investigates how drones,
security. Kay Ewbank prepares to rip up the artificial intelligence and
Post-it notes stuck to her monitor to celebrate seismic sensors are being
used to protect wildlife
12 Rants & Raves Learn from poachers and other
Facial recognition technology may help to threats on land and at sea
cut down on queues at passport control, 128 Helpfile & Business Help
but what else is the data being used for? Got a PC problem, app annoyance or
David Ludlow is concerned that our privacy Windows woe? Fear not: Simon Handby 122 Retro: Inside
is not being taken seriously enough is here to answer all your queries the Head of
Frank Sidebottom
138 Zygote 132 Advanced Projects David Crookes on the
At last, something for anyone who’s ever been Having trouble remembering all your life of Chris Sievey – punk
asleep on the job: a company that pays you passwords? Fret no more – Clive Webster is pioneer, Speccy coder,
for staying in bed. Zygote hits the sack, safe here to help you set up a secure password and the man beneath
in the knowledge that he won’t get the sack manager, and it needn’t cost you a penny the papier mâché mask
4 JULY 2019 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 377

p116
p78 p132
Reviews Group Tests
18 Hot Product
The Huawei MateBook X Pro takes a familiar design and adds
new features, updated hardware and a longer-lasting battery.
ry.
The result is a great ultraportable, but there’s tough
competition from within Huawei itself
22 PCs 42 Networks 78 Smartphones

Overclockers’ latest take on an affordable and It’s pricey, but the Netgear Orbi Outdoor We put 18 smartphones to the test,
versatile home desktop, the Gaming XVI Essential RBS50Y is effective at boosting Wi-Fi showing you how to get flagship specs
(p24), is leagues ahead of previous attempts performance at the bottom of the garden at a budget price, and ask if 5G and
foldable phones are the future. Plus
26 Laptops 44 Audio how to avoid the contract rip-off – and
The HP Spectre x360 13 (2019) is a The Creative Outlier Air aren’t just a are Huawei products safe to use?
conservative annual update; the Lenovo Yoga rich-sounding pair of true wireless earbuds;
C930 (p31), meanwhile, with its combined they’re superb value, too
speaker/hinge, is much more ambitious
32 Displays
48 Photography
For stills and video alike, the Nikon Z6
74 Your Software*
Even with accurate colours, nearly £900 for mirrorless camera manages to stand up to Ensure your deleted files are really
the Philips Brilliance 499P9H is a big ask even the more advanced Z7 gone for good with the help of
O&O SafeErase 12 Professional
34 Components 50 Wearables
Cheaper than the RTX 2060, the MSI GeForce
GTX 1660 Ti Gaming X 6G is a good mid-range
graphics card if you don’t need ray-tracing
It lacks GPS, but otherwise, the Garmin
Vivomove HR smartwatch is exceedingly
well equipped for the money
6 FULL
PACKAGES
36 Storage 54 Software
Budget NVMe SSDs are getting better, and Improved colour management is just one of
the nippy WD Blue SN500 is proof several key changes in Adobe’s Premiere
Pro CC 2019 video editor
40 Printers
Brother’s MFC-J5945DW is a quick and 56 Best Buys
economical A3 printer, but there are better Looking for the best kit we’ve reviewed * FREE SOFTWARE
EDITION ONLY
options for print quality recently? It’s all in our Best Buys section
ISSUE 377 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | JULY 2019 5

LETTERS
Letters
We’re always open to new ideas here at Shopper – and fortunately, our
knowledgeable readers are never short of a suggestion or two
[email protected]
Bang to rights Corel grief

I wonder how I am a long-time user of CorelDraw and
many of your usually upgrade every two years.
readers, when they’d I was recently sent an email
finished reading the by Corel offering the 2019
‘Design Your Dream upgrade for $199. Since I live
PC’ article in Shopper in the UK, I have to pay 20%
376, did as I did and VAT on top. That should
took the data from mean the total cost is
the CPU benchmark $238.80, which at the rate
results on page 83 of exchange on the day of
and built a spreadsheet to calculate the Can I suggest that in future issues of the writing is £182.55. However,
‘bang for buck’ values? magazine, where articles have benchmark Corel’s website is trying to charge me
Simply dividing the benchmark numbers comparisons, you do the calculations for us £299 for the upgrade.
by the price of each CPU gives a comparison and include the results in the article? Why should I have to pay more than
that might sway one’s buying choice. Steve Webb £100 extra for living in the UK?
Witness the image above. Mike Conder
Obviously the same approach could be Thanks for this suggestion. We agree that
taken for the other benchmarks in the it’s a useful calculation to include to make the Vicious cycle
article: storage on page 93, graphics cards buying process easier for Shopper readers so I was appalled when reading the
on pages 98 and 99, and CPU coolers on we’ll be including that in future articles about ‘Core Blimey’ CPUs article on page
page 103. building your own PC. 80 of Shopper 376 and the description of
Star letter
Pay away when paying by specs table (page 102).
I like reading the smartphone reviews contactless card: it’s The bad news, as you’ll
in Shopper and use them to make a £50 as opposed to £30. see from the specs
decision when upgrading my mobile. Roger Bullock table, is that NFC is
I currently have a Motorola Moto G5 not supported on
Plus, and the review of the Moto G7 Thanks for highlighting the Moto G7 Power.
Power in Shopper 376 convinced me that the importance of NFC to Android Pay users, Hopefully you’ll find a suitable alternative
it should be my next phone. and the maximum payment level differences. from the other 17 smartphones we’ve
But wait a minute – does it have NFC? We have some good and bad news for you. reviewed, 14 of which offer NFC support.
The review doesn’t say, so I went online We’re running a mammoth comparison of Of these, the Vodafone Smart X9 is a great
and found conflicting answers: the UK 18 smartphones as our group test in this issue low-cost option, or if you’re willing to
version doesn’t, but the European (page 78), which includes both a review of the splash out a bit more, we’d recommend
version might have. Moto G7 Power and NFC support as part of the the Honor View 20 or Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro.
NFC is a deal-breaker for me and, I
suspect, it is for the growing number of
people who use Android Pay. I rarely ❱❱ Write in and win
have my wallet with me, but always have Do you wish your computer was faster when booting and loading
my phone. applications? Thanks to Crucial, you can achieve your dream of a
So could future reviews please faster PC or laptop with a 500GB MX500 SSD. The writer of our
mention whether NFC is present or not? Star Letter will be awarded one of these solid-state devices, which
Either in the main review or even in the can be installed in a desktop PC or a laptop.
specifications panel. This SSD is 45 times more energy efficient than a typical hard STAR
Incidentally, it might be of interest drive and has sequential reads/writes up to 560/510MB/s and random PRIZE
to readers that the payment maximum reads/writes up to 95K/90K IOPS, making it the perfect replacement for the 500GB
SSD
is higher when using Android Pay than ageing hard drive in your sluggish PC.

LETTERS
other factors, including instruction set, i5) along with two friends’ old and slow
efficiency, design and number of cores, all laptops with new SSD drives and increased
play their part in determining overall speeds. memory running Windows 10.
They all now fly. There is life yet in the old
Virtuous recycle dog, so don’t discard your old desktop/
I recently found some old HD 1.44MB laptop, upgrade it. Save landfill – upcycle!
floppy disks containing personal and Andy Brent Cook
cricket club files from the past. Having an
old desktop in the shed with a floppy drive, I
connected it up to save the files to USB stick.
Although it worked, the old dual-core
Athlon 64-3800+ processor was slow. So I
had a look on eBay and took a punt on a
used Gigabyte P41T-D3 motherboard bundle
clock speeds at the end of the ‘Thread with a quad-core 2.5GHz Core i5 processor,
Lightly’ section. 4GB of DDR3 RAM and an Nvidia Quadro FX
Either the writer doesn’t know what 580 DVI graphics card. All for £40, in the
frequency is, or their English is lacking. original packaging with the manual.
Describing 1MHz as one cycle per second (or It was a doddle to fit with the Quick
3.6GHz as 3,600 cycles per second) is plain Start Guide, and was up and running in
wrong. 1MHz is 1,000,000hz, or 1,000,000 an hour. Following this success, I have One forsorrow, two for joy
cycles per second, and while CPU speeds are upgraded my Dell XPS 15 (quad-core Core Yo article on the Raspberry Pi
Your
usually quoted in GHz (1,000,000,000Hz),
000Hz), ((Shopper 374) was very informative but
the basic definitions have not changed. ed. one glaring omission. No mention was
with o
Tim made o of the wonderful and extensive
resource that is the MagPi magazine.
resour
Thanks for pointing this out. What we should Every issue, together with several
Eve
have said is that each cycle is a hertz, and each tutorials, can either be purchased or
tutorials
CPU can typically run one instruction per cycle. freely downloaded from the website
Therefore, the higher the clock speed, the more (www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/issues).
(www.ra
instructions can be run per second. It’s not There are hundreds of projects, together
always a direct correlation, as some instructions
structions many articles on computer languages
with m
can take more than one cycle to execute.ute. both ffor the beginner and the more
Clock speed is only a good comparisonison experienced programmer.
experi
between processors of the same range,nge, as Dave Sheppard
S
In the next issue

❰❰Echo chamber ❰❰Quantum
Our complete guide leaps
to getting the best All the latest
out of Amazon’s developments in
Alexa voice assistant, the world of
and a comparison of quantum
all the latest Echo computing,
devices to help you including efforts
choose the best one from Google, Intel
to suit your needs and IBM to turn
the technology to
real-world uses
❱❱Watchful
❱❱Build a eyes
Pi-based We put security
intelligent cameras and
speaker compact video
We show you how cameras to the
to build your own test, to see which
Raspberry Pi-powered are most worthy to
Google Assistant guard your home
using the Google (or just record
AIY Voice Kit your holidays)
COMPUTER SHOPPER ISSUE 378 ON SALE IN NEWSAGENTS FROM 13th JUNE

MEL’S WORLD
The great digital divide

With millions of UK citizens unable to access online services, the gap between the
connected and the disconnected is growing ever wider, says Mel Croucher
I HAVE KNOWN my friend lost in the past year. That’s a lot Also, they are disadvantaged
Mikey since we were little kids of deprivation for a little saving. A in the jobs market, where nearly
at school. He is my oldest friend further 400 terminals have been all opportunities are now
in all senses, and we have shared withdrawn from job centres, and brokered online.
all the episodes of our lives: the that’s plain bonkers. Wi-Fi may Then, even if they can find
good, the bad and the downright be everywhere, but the internet work, their earnings are almost
ugly. He helped me way back cafés that used to occupy our certain to be lower than folk
when we founded the first towns and cities have vanished. who do have digital skills.
leisure software company in And when it comes to spending
the UK together, and then my ACCESS DENIED those earnings, shopping offline
friend Mikey buggered off and So if people need to connect, is a whole heap more expensive
became a social worker. they need to access hardware at than clicking the button.
A while back he mentioned his home or to carry it around on the What’s more, the disconnected
MEL CROUCHER TV remote was broken, although I hoof. And if they haven’t got any even get robbed of their time,
Tech pioneer and all-round good egg could find nothing wrong with it. hardware, they are excluded. Yet because it takes way longer to
[email protected] Not long after, his text messages this is at a time when government access a service or make a
got flakey, and then he stopped is pushing social services online, transaction in person than it
responding to my emails. and at a time when banks favour does to execute it digitally.
In the early stages of his intercourse by apps rather than
mental shut-down, long before human happenstance. And all for ONLY DISCONNECT
his dementia took hold, before he the same reason: it’s cheaper. The poor, the old, the
forgot his PIN or how to use a Nobody really knows the unbalanced, the homeless, the
cash dispenser, he would stroll exact number of people in our phobic – these are the
along to his local branch of the divided society who are off-grid, disconnected. And in our brave
Halifax to withdraw some money or unable or simply unwilling to new world, the digital divide
for sandwiches and beer. But embrace technology. Last time I renders them second-class
then they closed the branch looked, the Office for National citizens. Soon, many of them
down, and online banking was Statistics reckoned that 5.3 will become non-citizens.
never really his thing. million UK adults haven’t used Society is going cashless.
Already, anyone without a
permanent address is unable to
The poor, the old, the homeless, the phobic – these are the disconnected. receive benefits, or be issued with
a touch card, and the circle of
And the digital divide renders them second-class citizens exclusion can only grow like
gangrene, until the worst affected
among us get hurt, fester, stink,
My friend Mikey had a lady the internet this year, and most rot and drop off. The response
friend who worked in the library of them have never accessed it to the mumbled mantra of ‘can
almost next door to the Halifax, at all. That’s 10% of our adult you spare me some change,
and she would use one of the population, according to the please?’ may soon not refer to
library computer kiosks to go official figures. The Centre for little bits of circular metal at all,
online for him to pay bills and Economics and Business but to a plea to alter society.
order stuff. She spent an awful Research puts the number When I visited my friend
lot of time helping him out like without access or digital skills at Mikey this morning, he was
that, and I suspect that once 7.9 million and rising. sitting in the book-lined room
upon a time they may have had a So who knows what the scale that was once his home office.
bit of a thing going on. of the problem really is? But it’s The curtains were drawn, and he
My friend Mikey used to visit bleeding obvious how people who was agitated, shouting at a little
the library a lot before they are digitally disconnected are black slab of plastic with a blue
closed that down as well. He is unable to benefit in modern light that pulsed in the gloom.
part of the digital divide, the part Britain. Let us count the ways. He told me he didn’t like it, but it
that is digitally divided from the First of all, people on the wouldn’t go away.
rest of society. And sad to say, wrong side of the digital I thought about it for a
he is on the wrong side. divide lose out on essential moment or two and then – in
Because of budget cuts, even communication, not just with what I hope was an act of
in the libraries that are still open, the authorities or the banks, kindness – I got down on my
at least a thousand internet- but with friends, family and hands and knees, and pulled the
connected machines have been the community in general. plug on his Wi-Fi hub.

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KAY’S CORNER
Last words for passwords?

A new web standard means the days of using your pet’s name to log into your favourite
sites may finally be over. Kay Ewbank calls on FIDO to help her through online security
I WAS CHATTING to a woman I add-in to your web browser. It a password; you use either
used to work with, and she told intercepts and stores passwords biometrics, the unique ID of your
me somewhat shamefacedly that you enter, so when you register mobile device, or something
a mutual ex-colleague had with a new site, you can use a called a FIDO2 security key.
managed to log on to the completely new password and Given the number of people who
website of a supplier our old choose one complicated enough use their dog’s name as their
company used infrequently. to make it tough to crack. You default password, this does
They’d got into the account set won’t have to remember it sound as if the members of the
up by my friend because they’d because whenever you’re asked W3C have a warped sense of
guessed the password would be to supply it, the password humour, but sadly it turns out
the one she always used – which manager supplies it for you. that FIDO stands for Fast
it was. What’s more, I know for a The best password managers IDentity Online. Essentially it
fact my friend still uses the same synchronise passwords across uses a hardware security key,
KAY EWBANK password for nearly everything, different devices, so you can log usually a USB device that you
Software guru and Shopper legend several years down the line. in on your laptop or your phone can put into any device from
[email protected] I’d like to think that this was and the password manager where you want to log on.
something rare, but it isn’t. provides the magic word. They’ll
People choose passwords that also update across the devices if WHO GOES THERE?
are easy to remember, and you change a password. It’s not clear yet which of the
therefore easy to crack, and use different authentication
the same one over and over, RANDOM MEMORY ACCESS techniques will be most
which is why the World Wide You don’t even have to think up popular, and none of them is
Web Consortium estimates a good password in the first really ideal. Biometric devices
that stolen, weak or default place. Password managers come such as fingerprint scanners
passwords are behind 81% of with a built-in random password and iris-recognition scanners
data breaches. generator. If you’re already a fan are fine in James Bond films,
It’s easy to see why people of password managers, it’s but older versions found on
use their dog’s name as a worth noting that most of laptops were a pain to use in
password for every site they them have a default setting for reality. USB security keys run the
register with – coming up with password length that’s too short risk that you lose them (or put
new and strong passwords is a – the accepted wisdom is that them through the washing
thankless task. What’s even you should be using passwords machine, which tends to turn
that are at least 16 digits long, them into ornaments).
with a mix of upper- and The least intrusive method
People choose passwords that are easy to lower-case letters, digits and
non-alphabetic characters.
seems to be the use of your
smartphone as a unique
remember, and therefore easy to crack It looks as though all these
password problems are going to
identifier. Android phones that
run at least Android 7 are now
disappear over the next few FIDO2 certified, meaning you can
worse is when you have to years, however, because of use some aspect of them – either
change your password regularly. something called WebAuthn. a local pin code, a swipe pattern
When I go into a company to This is a new standard that has that’s used to unlock the phone
work as a consultant, I reckon I been set up by the World Wide or the local fingerprint scanner
can tell how rigid their password Web Consortium (W3C), which on the phone – to prove you’re
policy is by the number of sticky is the governing body for what who you say you are. The
notes attached to monitors with happens on the web. important thing is that there’s
the current login password WebAuthn is an attempt to something only you can supply,
written down. It’s a trade-off – get around the problems of so even if you lose your phone
make people change their passwords getting hacked. It’s a your logins are secure.
password frequently, they’ll browser and platform standard For the moment, I’ll be
forget what the current one is so that is already supported in keeping the password manager
they write it down. This means Windows 10 and Android, as going, because sadly we’re still
anyone can sit down and log on. well as in Chrome, Firefox, a long way from ditching
Data safety? What data safety? Edge and Safari browsers. passwords altogether. I think this
Until now, the only sensible Dropbox has also announced standard looks as if it offers a
solution has been to use a support for WebAuthn. real alternative, however. The
password manager (see page 132). The basic idea behind days of sticky notes and tired old
This usually takes the form of an WebAuthn is that you don’t use passwords are numbered.

RANTS & RAVES
Product names continue to become more convoluted and confusing, much to the
annoyance of James Roland Hunt Moore-Colyer
nd Mo ore - Colyer
Rola
Yet those brands aren’t a patch on Intel. Not only
does
doe it have a vast array of mobile and desktop
chips
chi at skewed points in their refresh cycle, but it
has complex names for each chip with little to no
clue
clu to the non-initiated about the differences.
If you’re building a PC, you may be familiar with all
the ch
chip names. But if you simply want a Core i7 in your
laptop, there’s
t a choice of the Core i7-9850H, i7-9760H,
MY FULL NAME is James Roland Hunt Moore-Colyer; I go by i7-8559U, i7-8500Y and i7-8809G. All these CPUs have slight nuances,
Roland. For years, that stupid ‘known by my middle name’ format, but their names give no clue to their core count or performance.
all thanks to my father having airs above his station, has caused AMD isn’t much better with its Ryzen 3, 5 and 7 processors all
problems with appointments, travel bookings, banking, and pretty followed by a series of numbers, but they’re at least more logical.
much every other service where a form of your full name is needed. Graphics cards are slightly easier to understand, with Nvidia
I’ve sat at the dentists hearing a nurse call out ‘James’, only to breaking its latest Turing architecture into the high-end GeForce
realise it’s me when some amalgamation of ‘Mr Moore-Colyer’ – I’ve RTX range and the more affordable GTX 16-series. But there’s still
had Mr Moore, Mr Colyer, Mr Colyer-Moore – is blurted out. the difficulty of the newest GTX line-up sporting the GTX 1660 Ti,
Yet this is nothing compared to some of the frankly mad naming GTX 1660, GTX 1650 Ti and GTX 1650. You can extrapolate that the
conventions in the computing world. lower the number, the lower performance but there’s no easy way
Take Asus and its gaming laptop line. I use an Asus ROG Strix to see what the notable differences between the components are.
GL703VM, which is a mouthful followed by a meaningless set of I’m not saying such components need to have labels like GTX
letters and numbers. Asus also has the TUF, ROG Scar II, ROG Hero Budget or Core Top-Dog, but a more straightforward naming
II, ROG Zephyrus lines, all with a series of characters after them. convention would be easier to grasp. What’s wrong with numbering
Acer is just as bad, with its monitors boasting monikers such as devices as OnePlus does, or coming up with snappier names that
the Predator XB1 XB271HUA, which is about as snappy and sensible tell the consumer what they’re getting rather than a set of numbers
as a toothless crocodile. and letters that make finding the component you want a nightmare?
w
David Ludlo
a thre
three-hour immigration queue, I’d sign up to
anything
any to make the task quicker. As it is, the
facial
fa data just seems to be collected, stored and
used
use without any consent.
This highlights the problem with facial data. With
fingerprints
fin or iris scans, you have to willingly put a
body
bod part close to the scanner, giving you the
opportunity
opport to opt in or opt out. With facial recognition,
FLYING OUT OF Orlando airport back to the UK, there e was you can b be scanned and tracked from a distance.
something a bit different about boarding my plane. Rather than
th You
Yo might be surprised at the ways that facial recognition
having to hand over my passport for scanning, I just had to look at software is being used. Many stores have trialled the use of
a camera system (with my glasses off) in order to verify who I was. blacklisting software, which looks out for known shoplifters and
It’s all part of a new system being rolled out by the US Customs then warns security staff when one is spotted.
and Border Protection (CBP), with its plan to biometrically scan The Metropolitan Police continue to trial live facial recognition,
people on the way out of the country. Simple facial recognition although data provided by Big Brother Watch has shown that up
should be easier and quicker than using a passport for verification, to 98% of automated facial recognition matches by the Met
but what good does it do to scan people on their way out, and wrongly identified innocent people.
what is that information being used for? Facial recognition could be powerful and make life easier, but we
I’d be a bigger fan of the technology if the CBP would also shouldn’t let governments push us into using it as a default option.
apply it automatically on the way into the country: after suffering Our privacy and security deserve being taken more seriously.

Acer aims at Apple with creative professional PC line
SAY WHAT?
ACER HAS TAKEN aim at creative which come equipped with AMD’s Radeon RX
professionals with the introduction of its new Vega M GL to take care of graphics rendering.
ConceptD line of laptops and desktops. Leading the desktop charge is the ConceptD
At its Next 2019 New York event, Acer desktop, a machine that with its €17,999 (£15,519)
revealed the ConceptD 9, a chunky 2-in-1 device price tag is very much aimed at professionals.
with a 4K touchscreen on a hinge. This allows it The hefty price gives you a hefty spec, with
to be orientated in an easel or canvas-like the ConceptD 900 touting dual Xeon Gold 6140
fashion, similar to Microsoft’s Surface Studio, so processors that offer support for up to 12 DIMM
digital artists and designers can doodle on the slots to facilitate up to 192GB of DDR4 EEC
panel with the included digital pen. memory running at 2,666MHz.
With a Core i9 processor, GeForce RTX 2080 Nvidia’s Quadro RTX 6000 handles graphics
and up to 32GB of RAM, the ConceptD 9 packs processing, with the professional-grade GPU
plenty of power into its 4.1kg frame. A suite of offering support for workloads that include
ports, including HDMI 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3, take care of connectivity. demanding tasks such as ray-tracing. For storage, the desktop PC has
The well-specced and innovative device comes at a price: €4,999 (£4,300). 60TB of space, which should be enough for the most demanding of users.
Acer also unveiled a brace of traditional laptops for creative types: the At €2,799 (£2,413), the ConceptD 500 is a more affordable desktop. It
ConceptD 7 and 5. Both models comes with 15.6in UHD displays, but the uses an Intel Core i9-9900K processor, matched with the Quadro RTX
ConceptD 7 has a more impressive spec with its ninth-generation Core i7 4000 and up to 64GB of RAM. Storage hits 2TB and uses Intel’s Optane
processor, GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q, up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB of NVMe memory. All those components are slotted into a neat case that’s topped
storage space and a comprehensive set of ports. Be prepared to pay with a wood-effect panel, which incorporates a wireless charging mat.
anything from €2,299 (£1,982) for such a machine. To go with the desktops, Acer has a brace of professional displays, the
With a weight of 1.5kg and a price of €1,699 (£1,465), the ConceptD 5 is CM7321K and CP7271K P, which both come with 4K resolutions and claim
the more affordable and lighter ConceptD family member. Yet it still offers to cover 99% of the Adobe RGB gamut. The 32in CM7321K comes in at
a solid specification, with options for a Core i5-8305G or Core i7-8705G, €3,199 (£2,758) and the 27in CP7271K costs €2,099 (£1,809).
Sony’s PlayStation 5 set to be a PC-like console

SAY WHAT?
SONY HASN’T OFFICIALLY revealed the PlayStation 5 yet. But in an Taking care of the graphics side will be a graphics accelerator based on
interview with Wired magazine, Mark Cerny, the lead architect for the AMD’s upcoming Navi architecture, also built on the 7nm process node.
PlayStation 4, pretty much revealed what we can expect from Sony’s Cerny mentioned nothing about the compute power the AMD chip
next-generation games console. would offer, so there was no x-number of teraflops bandied around. But if
In a nutshell, it will be a brand new hardware platform, rather than a the next PlayStation is really set on handling 8K resolution, which with
mid-generation refresh like the PlayStation 4 Pro, and the exception of some very high-end TVs isn’t exactly prolific at the
it will support 8K resolutions, 3D audio, backwards moment, as well as ray-tracing, then it’s likely to come
compatibility, speedy SSD storage and, most with a serious jump in power over its predecessor.
surprisingly, ray-tracing rendering. Cerny talked about support for 3D audio in order to
The latter raises an eyebrow as it essentially involves make games feel more immersive, and noted that the
rendering all the paths light can take in a virtual scene, PlayStation 5 will eschew the spinning disk storage of its
including bouncing off objects to illuminate other areas, predecessor to use high-performance SSD storage,
in real time. This facilitates something called global facilitating snappy game and content loading times.
illumination, which basically means highly realistic Overall, this rough specification would indicate that
lighting in games and virtual environments. Sony is building a console based very much on next-
This takes a lot of power, so much so that to do it generation parts we’ll see pop up in PCs this year.
well, one would ideally need an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 The PlayStation 5 won’t make its debut until 2020,
Ti – a £1,000-plus graphics card. So the PlayStation 5 will need a lot of and there’s no word on price. But if Sony wants to keep being a leader in
power to handle ray-tracing, let alone support 8K resolutions. the games console world, it will need to make sure its next console offers
But Cerny said the new console will have a custom AMD chip with a not only a heap of power but also remains relatively affordable.
processor based on the chip maker’s 7nm Zen 2 architecture, which A competitively priced console with advanced features could really
promises a strong performance boost over the Zen architecture found in shake up both the hardware and games developer arenas, and will likely
first- and second-generation Ryzen processors. have a knock-on effect on the PC world.

Surface hubbub
Microsoft revealed the Surface Hub 2S,
a 50in touchscreen-cum-collaborative
computer device, with a massive 85in
version planned for 2020
SO WHAT?
ACER HAS PRODUCED decent general- Microsoft Surface devices or HP’s more
purpose laptops and Chromebooks for years, out-there laptops, Acer’s ConceptD 9 stands
some winning acclaim and others falling by the alone with a design that nods at the Surface
wayside. But the Taiwanese hardware firm has range but adds more professional power.
never truly targeted professional users to the The ConceptD 500’s built-in wireless
same extent as the likes of HP and Dell. That’s charger is also quite special. It might be a tad Chipping away
set to change with the ConceptD line. over the top, but some could find the feature Intel revealed its Core vPro line-up of
Acer’s line-up is squarely aimed at Apple in genuinely useful, and it’s a design flare that one mobile processors aimed at professional
terms of product appeal, and has Dell’s, HP’s won’t find in even the best Apple desktops. users, so expect a new wave of gutsy
and Lenovo’s traditional professional-grade Even the monolithic ConceptD 900 stands out notebooks from the likes of HP, Dell
products and workstations in its sights as well. as a machine with a heap of power and a lot of and Lenovo soon
The firm is doing this in two ways. The first potential once paired with a pro-grade monitor.
is to offer products that have a high level of The ConceptD 7 and ConceptD 5 laptops Let’s get digital, digital
functionality, from laptops with plenty of ports, might have traditional clamshell designs, but The next Xbox console won’t be a
including the now oft-eschewed SD card reader they stand out in bright white colour schemes next-gen console, but rather an Xbox
and DisplayPort connections, to machines that that don’t try to ape Apple’s MacBook Pros, but One S that shuns a disk drive to
come with carefully calibrated displays. rather offer alternatives; alternative machines embrace digital game downloads only
It’s not the first to offer such features or with a host more ports, it should be noted.
screen quality, but Acer has packaged said It will need to overcome Apple users’ huge Rays of light
features in machines that come equipped with loyalty, but Acer has a knack of balancing price Nvidia has released a GeForce patch
the latest processors and graphics components, and performance in an appealing package. that brings support for ray-tracing to
yet remain at competitive prices. ConceptD could be a panacea to the dull its 10-series graphics cards, even
The second is that it’s adding some degree stagnation that has arguably crept into the though they might struggle to power
of innovation to its products. Aside from some professional PC world. the light-rendering tech
Fold foibles
Samsung has delayed the launch of its
£1,800 Galaxy Fold foldable smartphone,
after the screens broke on early units
SO WHAT? AI agony
Google set up and then disbanded an
THERE ARE TWO core takeaways from this The second noteworthy point is that a ethics board for artificial intelligence
semi-reveal of the PlayStation 5 and why PC next-generation console built on what’s development after the company’s staff
fans should be interested. essentially PC hardware could benefit the PC kicked up a fuss about the questionable
First, the PlayStation 5 hints at the world in general. Consoles that support viewpoints of some members
capabilities of AMD’s next wave of processors ray-tracing would open the gates for more
and graphics cards. While the PlayStation 5 will compatible games, of which there are but a few Assange asylum
use custom components, the parts will still at the moment, as consoles have a much larger Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has
have their heritage in the PC domain. user base. As a knock-on effect, it would mean finally been arrested by British police
From that, we can extrapolate that the people who have splashed out on a new after seven years of squatting in the
third-generation Ryzen Zen 2 processors could GeForce RTX would likely have more games Ecuadorian embassy, which decided to
be serious performers, not only challenging available that could tap into the advanced kick him out after withdrawing its offer
Intel in multicore performance but also in abilities of their graphics card. of asylum for the wanted whistleblower
single-core clock speeds. And more potential for ray-tracing, along
Meanwhile, the use of a Navi-based GPU with support for 8K resolutions and 3D audio,
gives a strong idea of the potential capabilities of could see developers find new ways to optimise
the next wave of Radeon graphics cards. While such features, making them less demanding
Cerny didn’t say there would be any dedicated while still offering the related visual and aural
hardware for ray-tracing as there is in the benefits. That will be good news for getting
20-series GeForce RTX cards, having the power bang-for-your-buck from PC components.
to handle ray-tracing at a hardware or software As such, the PlayStation 5 is a console
level indicates Navi-based GPUs could be pretty that’s exciting to more than just PlayStation
impressive. AMD could really start to challenge fans, and could herald the arrival of some
Nvidia in terms of top-end performance. very interesting PC hardware.

Algorithm predicts which Game of Thrones
characters have death coming
UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH students whether someone is a smoker or how Companies
have created an algorithm that frequently they exercise. But in the that fail to
predicts the characters most likely to world of Game of Thrones, the more
die in hit HBO drama Game of Thrones. relevant information is what house
abide by the law
With the show’s final season under a particular character belongs to, may be sanctioned
way, a team at the Technical University whether they’re married and who with up to 4% of
of Munich (TUM) turned to basic data their allies are.
science and machine learning to work TUM’s data scientists combed
their global
out their macabre predictions. through the lives of hundreds of turnover”
Their prediction for season eight characters via the help of fan- The European Parliament is fed
– potential spoiler alert – is that Ser maintained Wikis. In-universe data, up with online companies that
Bronn of the Blackwater is most likely including gender and location, was don’t remove extremist content
to kick the medieval bucket, with a 93.5% chance of mixed with information such as whether someone
dying. To get this statistic, the team at TUM used is a major or minor character and how often Bletchley
approaches similar to those used in medicine and they’re cited in fan forums.
life-insurance calculations. By using this data, the team was able to reveal
Park is a
They mined statistical information about how some basic truths about mortality in the Game of place where
long people lived, along with biographical data Thrones universe, such as the fact that being male is innovative digital
that might correlate to when they die. A real-life more dangerous than being female; men have a 22%
example might include information such as death rate, compared to 11% for women.
technology was
pioneered, and
this legacy will
NHS reaches for the stars for portable X-rays undoubtedly
inspire the future
STAR-SCANNING TECH used to peer at stars in wafers, used in ion thrusters, as well as X-ray generations who
distant galaxies will find its way into the NHS in the optics deployed in star-mapping missions.
form of a portable 3D medical X-ray machine The NHS hopes that re-jigging this
learn here”
located in GP surgeries across the UK. technology into a form that can be used in Iain Standen, Bletchley Park Trust
The UK Space Agency will funnel £1m practical healthcare settings will save CEO, on the codebreaking estate
into developing equipment that lets clinicians and patients time, as well as becoming an Institute of Technology
doctors more comprehensively scan for improve detection rates for cancer.
tumours than existing 2D scanning The scanner, built by Adaptix, is the I absolutely
technology. The scanners will be portable first of four projects to receive a share detest
and satellite-linked, meaning patients can of a £4m innovation fund put forward by
be examined via X-rays in GP surgeries the European Space Agency’s Business
modern ʻsocial
instead of waiting for hospital referrals. Applications and Space Solutions programme, media’ – Twitter,
Using space technology, the 3D X-ray scanners a joint venture between the UK Space Agency and Facebook,
will repurpose field emitters etched on to silicon NHS England launched in June 2018.
Instagram. It’s a
disease. It seems
to encourage bad
Acer’s sliding keyboard reveals new behaviour”
approach to laptop cooling Linux founder Linus Torvalds is
no fan of social networks
KEEPING LAPTOPS COOL has been a concern for cooling array underneath. With the keyboard
Acer for many years, with it working on heatpipe retracted, the processor and graphics card are We estimate
and 3D fan-cooling systems. But the firm has gone a automatically overclocked to squeeze as much that up to 1.5
bit leftfield with its new €2,699 Helios Predator 700. power out of them as possible.
At first glance, the machine is a chunky high-end Dubbed the HyperDrift keyboard, it’s certainly a million people’s
gaming flagship laptop. It has a 144Hz different approach to cooling. But the email contacts
17.3in Full HD display in a solid- innovation also extends to the keys. may have been
looking angular chassis, while under Known as Magforce keys, the
the hood sits a ninth-generation Intel keyboard uses linear switches that
uploaded. These
Core i9 processor, with up to 64GB of offer an analogue-like feel, such as contacts were not
DDR4 RAM, and either a GeForce those found in mechanical keyboards, shared with anyone
RTX 2080 or RTX 2070 graphics chip. to reduce the time between pressing
To maximise cooling when the a button and something happening.
and we are
laptop’s components are running The idea is to allow for more deleting them”
as fast as they can, the keyboard control in gaming, where precise Facebook admits to yet another
deck slides forward, exposing a actions are needed. data gaffe

Google Stadia
Google reckons it can shake up the future of gaming
GOOGLE AND GAMING?
Well, the search giant has been to fund projects with ambitious goals
involved in the gaming world for and features, given there are
some time, only that has been potentially thousands or indeed
limited to facilitating games on millions more people to play their
Android. But with Stadia, Google games than previously.
is getting its fingers into the At worst, Stadia could be an
wider gaming world. additional service for gamers to
Rather than try to make its extend how they play games, as
own gaming PC or console, well as introduce more people to
Google Stadia is the company’s easily accessible high-quality
take on a game-streaming games. At best, it could be a
service, in that it will pipe pretty revolutionary move for
games over the internet to the gaming world.
various consoles, rather than
rely on dedicated hardware. HOW IS GOOGLE GOING
TO POWER THIS?
SO A NETFLIX Google will use the
FOR GAMERS? massive reach of its cloud
You’re right and a bit wrong. platform, which supports
Much like Microsoft’s xCloud, Stadia plans to stream games to pretty YouTube and its other services. Google should be pretty good at
much every device around, from low-powered Chromebooks and that, given how it serves things such as Gmail and Google Docs to
laptops, to smartphones, tablets and TVs. millions of people worldwide.
Stadia aims to deliver those games at 4K resolutions with high The search giant will use specific hardware in its servers to power
dynamic range (HDR) and surround-sound support packaged in. Stadia. From what we know so far, that will involve a custom AMD
Later on down the line, Google has ambitions for Stadia to graphics accelerator and an x86-based processor clocked at 2.7GHz.
stream games at a frankly monstrous 8K resolution, which isn’t The CPU is likely to be a high-end Intel processor, probably one
really widely available unless you fork out several thousand pounds from the chip giant’s Xeon line. Some 16GB of RAM will back up the
on an 8K TV from the likes of Samsung. This is a statement of processor, and the hardware will provide over 10.7 teraflops of
Google’s gaming intent. computing power. There’s quite a bit of potential gaming power there,
Google will offer a hardware element in Stadia, in the form of an and could suggest the type of spec future games consoles could sport.
optional controller that looks like someone mashed together an Xbox
One and PlayStation 4 controller together. WHAT’S THE CATCH?
The slick thing with the controller is that it connects directly to the Like other gaming streaming services out in the wild or currently in
network that Stadia is using in someone’s home, rather than to the the pipeline, the biggest hurdle is broadband connectivity.
device on which it’s running. That means users can move from playing a Streaming games smoothly at Full HD resolution requires a decent
Stadia-based game on a laptop and then switch to the service on a TV internet connection; doing it at 4K requires pretty beefy broadband,
without the fiddly need to pair the controller with a new device. to say nothing of 8K streaming.
While fibre broadband is becoming
HOW ABOUT VIDEO SUPPORT?
Glad you asked. The real kicker to Stadia Game developers will be more and more widespread, there are still
plenty of areas – urban and rural – that are
is how it will be integrated with YouTube.
Game developers will be able to post able to post videos of their still stuck on slow connections.
However, 5G networks are going to be
videos of their creations on the video-
sharing site with a ‘play now’ option, creations on YouTube with a rolled out with gusto across the UK in 2019,
and that new standard in connectivity is
allowing viewers to immediately dive into
the game if it’s on the Stadia service. ‘play now’ option expected to support high-bandwidth
connections that can handle demanding
That sounds pretty slick. But even smarter streaming services and low-latency gaming.
is the Crowd Play feature, which allows people who are watching others Even so, Google has the second challenge of getting high-end
stream games on YouTube – quite a big thing at the moment – to game developers on board to make Stadia a well-stocked service
actually join in with their chosen streamer. How exactly this will be to attract players, especially if they have to fork out a monthly fee
facilitated has yet to be seen, but the stream host will have control (pricing for Stadia has yet to be divulged).
over the queue of players wanting to join them. Google plans to tackle this in part by setting up the Stadia
Such a tie-up with YouTube could be quite significant indeed, as it Games and Entertainment studio, which will be focused on creating
stands to bring games to a wider audience, who can play them without exclusive titles for the new gaming service. It’s also important to
needing to fork out for a games console or PC, or indeed have much remember that Google has a good deal of experience currying
prior knowledge of the gaming world. favour with software developers.
The knock-on effect could mean wider audiences for game Either way, 2019 looks to be very interesting for game streaming,
developers to target, meaning more interesting and diverse games and while it’s not likely to kill off gaming PCs or consoles any time
could be created. Game publishers could also have more confidence soon, it’s definitely an exciting time for the gaming world.

HUAWEI
MateBook X
Pro (2019)
WINDOWS 10 ULTRAPORTABLE
★★★★★
£1,750 • From consumer.huawei.com
VERDICT
Even if the MateBook 14 is a better deal, the
updated MateBook X Pro is a lovely high-end laptop
18
THE HUAWEI MATEBOOK X Pro was one of The general design is one such advantage: unlocking would be even easier – and one
the surprise best laptops of 2018. With its this is a sleeker, arguably better-looking laptop thing Huawei hasn’t thought to include – this
incredible display, a slim, well-made chassis, than the MateBook 14. That’s why it’s fine for works almost as well. We’re less keen on
and decent performance and battery life, it Huawei to have essentially re-used last year’s the 720p webcam, however. Although its
was an ultraportable with very few flaws. design: it has the same barely-there bezels positioning is conceptually neat – it’s hidden
Now, there’s a new model for 2019, surrounding the 13.9in, 3:2 aspect-ratio beneath a key on the top row of the
launching alongside the cheaper MateBook 14 touchscreen, along with identical Dolby keyboard, and pops up when you press it
(Shopper 376) and a refreshed MateBook 13. Atmos-powered speakers flanking the – the quality remains poor and the up-your-
In fact, the MateBook X Pro is close to being keyboard. Additional sets of speakers pump nose viewing angle is pretty unflattering.
more of a refresh itself: aside from a change out sound via vents on the right and left The MateBook 14 had the exact same issue.
to the logo on the lid (from a simple logo to edges, on the underside of the chassis.
a big ‘Huawei’ stencilled in plain text), the HOPPING GLAD
laptop looks pretty much identical. There are TIGHTENED UP The other main difference between the 2018
some more substantial changes, too, but it’s Despite its doppelgänger looks, however, the and 2019 MateBook X Pro versions is the
much more of an iterative update than the 2019 MateBook X Pro feels – almost Huawei Share sticker just below the cursor
MateBook 14, which is a brand-new product. intangibly – more solidly put-together than cluster on the right. It’s not particularly nice
The key differences are contained within: last year’s model. The chassis is ever so to look at, but don’t be tempted to peel it off
there are a couple of eighth-generation Intel slightly more rigid, and the keys on the as it’s an NFC tag and enables one of the
Core processors to choose from, more RAM, keyboard feel more softly damped. It’s a laptop’s new features: OneHop.
extra storage and a new Nvidia GeForce subtly more luxurious device. As on the MateBook 14, this lets you tap
MX250 graphics chip as well. Best of all, it remains just as surprisingly a Huawei or Honor smartphone on to the
practical. While most other ultraportables are sticker to pair it, thus enabling you to transfer
SHARING IS CARING plumping for USB Type-C connectors alone, photos, videos and documents in a snap. This
The spec options are simple, in that there are Huawei’s machine adds a full-size USB3.1 port is useful if you don’t have a USB cable to
only two: a £1,400 model containing the Intel into the mix. This sits on the right edge and hand, and if you transfer a photo containing
Core i5-8265U, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and complements a pair of USB Type-C ports and text, the pre-installed PC Manager software
the MX250, and the £1,750 model we tested, 3.5mm jack, which both sit on the left edge. can use optical character recognition to
which combines a Core i7-8565U with 16GB of One is USB3.1 and the other is Thunderbolt turn it into editable text on the laptop. It’s all
RAM, a 1TB SSD and the same graphics chip. 3-compatible, but both are usable for video very clever, but we wish it would work with
Intriguingly, those are the same CPUs output and charging interchangeably. all NFC-capable phones and not just Huawei
with which you can equip the MateBook 14, Another feature inherited from the original and Honor handsets.
so while the equivalent MateBook X Pro model is the circular power button, which sits As with 2018’s MateBook X Pro, the 2019
specs also offer more storage space, the just above the keyboard on the right-hand version has a brilliantly usable keyboard. Its
latter will need to pull out some other side and doubles as a Windows Hello- square, Scrabble-tile keys are well spaced and
advantages to justify its higher pricing. compatible fingerprint reader. While facial have a good amount of travel, and there’s a

The display is an absolutely glorious
thing to behold: vibrant and crisp,
with deep, inky blacks, great
contrast and wonderful colours.
It’s searingly bright, too
nice, positive, well-damped finish to each scene. It can also make the screen very dim in Light Redux: at 1080p with High quality
keystroke. Even the layout is nice and clean, some circumstances, which might be fine if enabled, it averaged 33fps, but the MateBook
save for some slightly fiddly up/down cursor you could turn the setting off. 14 managed 45fps with the same settings.
keys, although we got used to these in time. The MateBook 14 has better battery life,
Likewise, the touchpad on this laptop is DANGER DANGER, LOW VOLTAGE too. In our video playback test, the
an absolute triumph. It might not have the Performance is also mixed. In theory, it should MateBook X Pro lasted 9h 14m – a good
technological advantages of, say, Apple’s be great: the quad-core Core i7-8565U CPU result, to be sure, but not as good as the
Force Touch pad, but it’s large and sensitive, has plenty of RAM backing it up, and the 10h 24m of the 14in laptop.
and its mechanical click isn’t heavy or MX250 is so new it’s yet to appear in any
oversensitive. It’s great for all-day mousing non-MateBook laptops that have come SIBLING RIVALRY
of any kind, from spreadsheet legwork to through our labs. There are two conclusions to draw from all
photo and video editing. On its own terms, this results in a this. First, the new MateBook X Pro is only a
snappy-feeling laptop that boots up quickly, minor improvement on last year’s model:
PINPOINT OF VIEW launches apps very quickly and copes with battery life is a little better, and OneHop is a
The biggest difference between the pretty much anything you fancy throwing at it nice extra, but you shouldn’t waste money
MateBook X and the MateBook 14 is the except, perhaps, 4K video editing and upgrading if you’ve already got the 2018
screen. On the MateBook X Pro, you’re rendering in Adobe Premiere. model. Second, of all of Huawei’s new
getting a slightly smaller IPS display, but a After running a few benchmarks, however, laptops, the MateBook 14 is the best one to
high resolution of 3,000x2,000 pixels. It’s an it became clear to us that something slightly buy: it’s cheaper than the MateBook X Pro
absolutely glorious thing to behold: vibrant odd was going on. Our own 4K application while having higher performance, not to
and crisp, with deep, inky blacks, great benchmarks showed that the Huawei mention all the same OneHop features.
contrast and wonderful colours. It’s searingly MateBook X Pro, with an overall score of 76 However, that’s not to say that the
bright, too, peaking at 531cd/m2. and multitasking score of 63, was performing MateBook X Pro should be ignored
It passed our technical tests with flying at around the same level as last year’s model, completely. In most respects it’s still a
colours. Not only does the MateBook X Pro’s not to mention lagging behind the Core i7 stupendously good laptop, with a great design
screen cover almost all of the sRGB colour version of the MateBook 14. and a wonderful screen. It’s practical, quick,
gamut out of the box, specifically 95.9%, but The only clue to this difference we could very slim and light considering the screen size,
colour accuracy in this colour space is pretty find was when we fired up the Intel Power and it’s great to type on. At the very least, it’s
much flawless, with an average delta-E of Gadget monitor, which revealed the TDP worth waiting to see if you can get it on sale.
0.54. On consumer laptops, a measurement package limit for the Core i7 inside the Jonathan Bray
this low is almost unheard of; you normally MateBook X Pro had been set to 18W,
have to buy a professional desktop monitor versus 25W for the MateBook 14. SPECIFICATIONS
to get such good accuracy. Interrogating last year’s MateBook X Pro in
There is one niggle, however. Out of the the same way reveals a TDP limit of 15W. • RAM
PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8565U
box, the MateBook X Pro employs dynamic This is presumably to prevent overheating in
16GB• DIMENSIONS 304x217x14.6mm • WEIGHT 1.3kg •
SCREEN SIZE 13.9in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 3,000x2,000 •
contrast, altering brightness (even with auto the smaller, thinner MateBook X Pro, but it GRAPHICS ADAPTOR Nvidia GeForce MX250 • TOTAL
brightness disabled) depending on the screen puts it in the awkward positioning of being STORAGE 1TB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10
content. With a lot of bright and white slower than its cheaper sibling. Home • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS consumer.
huawei.com • PART CODE GX701GX-EV016R
colours onscreen, peak brightness is boosted; This seems to have a knock-on effect on
when there’s lots of dark content, the laptop gaming performance, too. While both the
drops the brightness by as much as half. MateBook X Pro and MateBook 14 models we Windows overall 76
This can benefit battery life and it tested have the same MX250 GPU, the Multitasking 63
prevents dark scenes taking on a washed-out MateBook X Pro produced 66fps in Dirt Battery life 9h 14m
look, but it can also be distracting when Showdown (running on High settings and 0% -50 Reference +50 +100
you’re watching a video, as the display 720p), less than the MateBook 14’s 88fps. See page 106 for performance details
brightens and darkens subtly from scene to It also struggled much more in Metro: Last

DESKTOP GAMING PC
CHILLBLAST Fusion Ryzen 7

RTX 2070 Custom Gaming PC
★★★★★
£1,300 • From www.chillblast.com
VERDICT
An accomplished games machine and potent, extensively
connected multitasker, this PC gets almost everything right
THE RELATIVE NEWNESS of Nvidia’s many frames in play that you’d

GeForce RTX graphics cards means that struggle to see much difference even if
there aren’t a great deal of pre-built, you had a high refresh rate monitor. Its
RTX-based PCs to compare against each 100fps at 4K, still using Ultra quality
other. Even so, it’s already clear enough that and 4x MSAA, is another fine showing.
£1,300 for a desktop with the high-end RTX Predictably, if no less impressively,
2070 could be quite the tempting prospect the RTX 2070 also drove this PC to a
– so long as the rest of it is up to scratch. perfect SteamVR Performance Test
The Fusion Ryzen 7 RTX 2070 Custom result of 11. That translates into high
Gaming PC builds around its GPU with an performance in VR games even on
octa-core, 16-thread AMD Ryzen 7 2700 CPU, their maximum graphical settings, and
16GB of DDR4 RAM, a 250GB WD Black SSD like all higher-end RTX cards, there’s
(Shopper 376), a 2TB hard disk and Gigabyte’s another gift to VR headset owners
B450M Aorus M motherboard. It sticks to the with the USB Type-C VirtualLink port
basics in some minor respects – the CPU is on the back. This lets you connect an
air-cooled rather than watercooled, and that HTC Vive or Oculus Rift with a single
motherboard uses the microATX form factor cable for both power and data, though
– but by and large, this is a premium system. these particular headsets will need an
adaptor. HTC and Oculus have committed to scored an incredible 197. We’d recommend
RTX FACTOR built-in VirtualLink support on future devices. spending more if you need both an adept
Nowhere else is this proven more convincingly gaming system and a professional-grade
than in gaming performance. In Metro: Last WORKING OUT workstation, but again, Chillblast’s desktop
Light Redux, our most demanding test game, For now, it’s more than good enough just is just fine for recreational editing.
Chillblast’s system kept pace with the £1,600 to have this degree of 1440p and 4K
Palicomp Intel i7 Supernova (Shopper 376), performance at a reasonable price. CPU BLACK HEARTED
averaging a silky 90fps at power is also sufficiently There’s some very good storage in here, too.
1,920x1,080 as well as high, even if it’s not As we found out in our WD Black review,
54fps at 2,560x1,440. The quite as impressive it’s not the very fastest NVMe SSD, but it
usual mix of Very High as its GPU strength. comes close, and here it recorded some
quality and SSAA proved The Fusion Ryzen 7 RTX suitably lofty AS SSD results: a 2,694MB/s
a little too much at 2070 Custom Gaming PC read speed, and a 1,505MB/s write speed.
3,840x2,160, judging by scored 137 in our 4K In practice, this makes for pleasingly rapid
the 25fps result, but benchmarks’ image test, file transfers and short loading times.
simply disabling SSAA 252 in the video test and Its 250GB capacity is middling, but then
bumped this up to a very 302 in the multitasking overall capacity isn’t a problem thanks to the
playable 50fps. There’s test, for 258 overall. massive 2TB hard disk. This is a traditional
hardly a drop in visual Windows 10 flies along, mechanical drive so won’t come close to the
quality either, as the high and compute-intensive SSD’s speeds, but it’s convenient for stuffing
resolution naturally tasks such as photo and with large video files and image folders while
makes edges look video editing are certainly freeing up the SSD’s prime storage space for
smoother, something welcome – multithreaded favoured games and applications.
you’d normally need workloads have always Should you ever run out of space,
anti-aliasing for. been Ryzen’s strong suit. there’s also lots of room to add more drives.
In Dirt Showdown, While you’d be getting One of the two 3.5in bays is left empty, and
the Intel i7 Supernova respectable processing a generous four 2.5in mounts are positioned
came out ahead at 1080p power for the money, around the internal chassis.
and 1440p, likely due to however, be aware that the
its overclocked Core Ryzen 7 2700 sits just LIGHTING RIG
i7-9600K having greater below the true CPU elite. On the outside, the case – a Corsair Carbide
single-core heft than the We’ve seen the Ryzen 7 Spec-06 RGB – looks nice enough. It’s all
Ryzen 7 2700. Still, with 2700X score considerably plastic at the front but has a full-size
the Chillblast PC scoring higher in benchmarks, and tempered glass side window, through which
140fps at 1,920x1,080 and the Intel i7 Supernova you can peer at the humming components
130fps at 2,560x1,440, blasts ahead, especially in and the moody red LED ring of the CPU
there are already so the image test, where it cooler. As the name suggests, RGB lighting

is present, albeit in a more restrained manner and that there are no additional M.2 slots for
than most light-up cases: a single strip bends faster storage, feel like unnecessary limitations.
across the front panel, and handily can be That said, it could be worse. There are still
controlled from a little three-button panel a full four RAM slots, with two filled and two
attached to the rear of the chassis. going spare, as well as enough SATA ports to fill
A few inches above sits a nicely varied out every single one of the empty storage bays.
assortment of ports and connectors. With two For those who aren’t even inclined to mess
USB2, four USB3 and two USB3.1 ports, you’re around with their PC’s innards, too, the
unlikely to run out of space for peripherals, motherboard size won’t be a pressing concern.
dongles and removable storage, especially with
another two USB3 ports on the front. Side FUSION POWER
speaker, rear speaker and C/SUB audio outputs It’s also a testament to the quality and capability
beef up the usual line-in, line-out and headphone of this PC that this is the only potential issue
3.5mm jacks, and a single PS/2 socket caters for worth really complaining about. There might be
those who prefer more vintage input hardware. the odd thing where we wish Chillblast had gone
You also get a choice of wired or wireless one step further – faster Wi-Fi, for instance – but
networking, via the Gigabit Ethernet port and an there’s almost nothing that would actively impede
802.11n Wi-Fi card. It’s a shame this uses the your enjoyment or productivity, at least with
slower standard and not 802.11ac, however. realistic standards for a £1,300 system.
James Archer
CRAMPED STYLE
Besides VirtualLink port, the graphics card SPECIFICATIONS
contributes one HDMI output and a healthy
three DisplayPorts. USB Type-C seems to be the
PROCESSOR Octa-core 3.2GHz AMD Ryzen 7 2700 RAM 16GB •
• •
DDR4 FRONT USB PORTS 2x USB3 REAR USB PORTS 2x
most conspicuous absence from an otherwise •
USB2, 4x USB3, 2x USB3.1 GRAPHICS CARD 8GB Gigabyte
well-equipped motherboard I/O port, but since •
GeForce RTX 2070 Windforce 8G STORAGE 250GB SSD, 2TB
the VirtualLink port can act as a standard Type-C • •

hard disk DISPLAY None OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10
•
Home WARRANTY Five years labour, including two years
port as well, you can still use any device that •
collect and return DETAILS www.chillblast.com •
connects via the reversible port as if you were PART CODE Fusion Ryzen 7 RTX 2070 Custom Gaming PC
plugging it into the motherboard.

Said motherboard also happens to be the Windows overall 258
Fusion Ryzen 7 RTX 2070 Custom Gaming PC’s Multitasking 302
biggest weakness, besides its unwieldy name. Dirt Showdown 140fps
Maybe it’s just cost-cutting but it’s always Metro: Last Light 90fps
disappointing to see a microATX board in a case
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
that can support full ATX models. The fact that See page 106 for performance details
the only spare PCI-E slot is a solitary PCI-E x16,

DESKTOP GAMING PC
OVERCLOCKERS
Gaming XVI Essential
★★★★★
£700 • From www.overclockers.co.uk
VERDICT
A great CPU and SSD storage definitely help,
but gaming performance is the star here
STRAIGHT AWAY, THE Gaming XVI Essential The addition of an context, as you’re still
looks like a superior all-round desktop than SSD can’t be downplayed getting fantastic in-game
the last £700 Overclockers PC we looked at, either. It means the performance for the cash.
the Gaming Vision VR (Shopper 374). That had Gaming XVI Essential Securing such high
a strong advantage for gaming in its GTX 1060 boosts faster, loads performance on day one is
graphics card, but with only a Core i3-8100 programs faster and all the more important
CPU and 1TB hard disk, it ultimately lost out transfers files faster than when upgrade potential is
to its hexa-core, SSD-equipped peers. the Gaming Vision VR, limited, and unfortunately
The Gaming XVI Essential is far more up to and probably would have this applies to the Gaming
speed. It has an overclockable, 12-threaded done so even if the CPU XVI Essential. The chassis may
AMD Ryzen 5 2600, and while there’s still a wasn’t better as well. That’s be decked out with colourful
1TB hard disk, this time it’s in reserve – the not to mention the greater overall capacity: case fans, but it offers only three storage
main drive is a 240GB SATA SSD. Nvidia’s new the extra 240GB of solid-state capacity comes bays (one 2.5in, two 3.5in). The microATX
GTX 1660 also takes the place of the GTX 1060, in addition to, not instead of, the 1TB hard disk. motherboard, too, has just a single PCI-E x16
and even the case looks better, gaining dual The only caveat is that by SSD standards, slot, two PCI-E x1 slots (one of which is
RGB fans with nine different colour modes. the drive is a pretty mediocre performer. Using obscured by the graphics card) and two RAM
There are two big performance gains these the AS SSD benchmark, we clocked a good slots, although there is one unused M.2 slot.
specs bring to the Gaming XVI Essential: a read speed of 498MB/s, but its write speed of
general speed boost from the SSD, and vastly 248MB/s is only about half of what SATA is JUST THE ESSENTIALS
quicker 2D application performance from the capable of. Ultimately, the SSD is a worthwhile External connectivity, likewise, is serviceable
CPU. In our 4K benchmarks, the Ryzen 5 2600 inclusion, but for the very best speeds (and but ultimately nothing special. The front of
(together with 8GB of RAM) scored 133 in the capacity) you’re better off with the AMD the case has single USB2 and USB3 ports,
image test, 206 in the video test, 231 in the Abyss and its breakneck 500GB NVMe drive. while the rear I/O panel combines two USB2
multitasking test and 207 overall. The Gaming ports, four USB3 ports and two PS/2 sockets
Vision VR looks lethargic next to these results PLAYING TO WIN with the standard three 3.5mm audio jacks.
– its own highest score was 109 in the video The area in which the Gaming XVI Essential In fairness, that’s not unduly basic for
test, and it only managed 106 overall. stands out most is also where it’s most similar £700, and you can at least add a single NVMe
Perhaps this doesn’t put the Gaming XVI to the Gaming Vision VR. That’s because the SSD or a slim PCI-E device like a Wi-Fi card.
Essential among the most compute-capable GTX 1660, based on its performance here, is Since the AMD Abyss has an even faster
£700 desktops – for example, the Palicomp about the most modest upgrade to the GTX CPU, better storage and a more feature-rich
AMD Abyss and Chillblast Fusion Recoil (both 1060 imaginable. Metro: Last Light Redux, motherboard, it’s still our favourite do-
Shopper 374) scored 230 and 241 overall running on Very High quality with SSAA anything £700 desktop. Overclockers’ effort,
respectively – but it’s far more competitive enabled, produced 52fps at 1,920x1,080 and however, should be considered first for
than Overclockers’ previous attempt. 29fps at 2,560x1,440. That’s almost exactly the gaming specifically – as vastly improved as it
same as the Gaming Vision VR. is in other hardware areas, wringing out every
Dirt Showdown saw a much bigger last frame-per-second is what it’s best at.
difference, with Overclockers’ newer system James Archer
averaging a slick 139fps at 1,920x1,080 and
114fps at 2,560x1,440 (both using Ultra SPECIFICATIONS
quality), but knowing how CPU-dependent
this game is, that could be down to the
PROCESSOR Hexa-core 3.4GHz AMD Ryzen 5 2600 •
Gaming XVI Essential’s better processor.
RAM 8GB DDR4 • FRONT USB PORTS 1x USB2, 1x USB3 •
REAR USB PORTS 2x USB2, 4x USB3 • GRAPHICS CARD
The SteamVR Performance Test, at least, put 6GB Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G • STORAGE 240GB
out an improved result of 9.3, up from 8.5 SSD, 1TB hard disk • DISPLAY None • OPERATING
on the Gaming Vision VR. This one is much SYSTEM Windows 10 Home • WARRANTY Three years
collect and return • DETAILS www.overclockers.co.uk •
more likely down to the GPU alone.
PART CODE FS-1DF-OG
Why, however, is the Gaming XVI
Essential’s greatest strength something that’s
only barely better than that of the Gaming Windows overall 207
Vision VR? It’s because gaming prowess was Multitasking 231

already the latter’s strong suit; many other Dirt Showdown 139fps
£700 systems came close, but the GTX 1060 Metro: Last Light 52fps
proved the best GPU for gaming at this price.
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
The GTX 1660 may not be much stronger, but See page 106 for performance details
even a sidegrade is just fine in this particular

WINDOWS 10 CONVERTIBLE LAPTOP
HP Spectre x360 13 (2019)

★★★★★
£1,200 • From store.hp.com
VERDICT
A competent annual update, but there are
better ultraportables available
MUCH LIKE LENOVO’S Yoga series, the

Spectre x360 line has been at the forefront of
convertible laptops since the concept took off.
The Spectre x360 13 in particular has had many
iterations, and the 2019 model looks to be the
most drastically overhauled version yet.
Much of it is familiar: there’s the 13in
touchscreen, HP’s Active Pen stylus and the
360° rotating hinge. The internal hardware
isn’t too surprising, either: our mid-spec
review unit had an Intel Core i7-8565U
processor, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB PCI-E
SSD, along with a 1,920x1,080 display. 4K
models, and one with a dedicated GTX 1050 Ti
graphics card, are also available.
SPACE SHAVING
Similarly to last year’s Spectre x360, this new
model has a sleek, all-aluminium build. It’s
gained weight but only barely, rising from
1.29kg to 1.33kg, and is marginally thicker at
14.7mm over last year’s 13.6mm. However,
much of the extra bulk is offset by the
angular ‘gem cut’ rear edges.
Beyond looking a bit strange, these
sliced-off edges serve a practical
purpose. The back right corner now
has a Thunderbolt 3-enabled USB
Type-C data and charging port, while Type-C slot with Thunderbolt 3 on the right. with a slick layer of Corning Gorilla Glass NBT
the power button is located in the rear left A webcam killswitch is located here, too. to reduce friction and prevent smudging.
corner. The corner charging slot also helps Compared to similarly proportioned The Active Pen works well, too, and is
to reduce cable clutter around the laptop, laptops such as the Dell XPS 13 (Shopper 376) bundled for free, which is a minor blessing
leaving a little bit more space to work. or Lenovo Yoga C930 (page 31), the HP when Apple and Microsoft are charging
Granted, there’s not a great deal of Spectre x360 13’s large bezels look out of date. £100 for their styluses. We’d have liked
connectivity elsewhere, largely thanks to It’s a diminutive display to begin with, and the somewhere to clip the Active Pen to the
how the super-slim edges taper off to amount of dead space around the screen is laptop when the former is not in use, however.
become even thinner towards the front. especially noticeable when the laptop is in The Spectre x360 13’s chiclet keyboard is
Still, HP has found space for a full-size USB3 tablet mode. Beneath the screen is a pair of about as conventional as can be. The keys
port on the left side, as well as a 3.5mm audio Bang & Olufsen speakers, and they’re have a healthy amount of travel and feedback,
jack, a microSD card slot and a second USB supported by another pair of down-firing and there’s a sturdy click-clack to individual
speakers – also from Bang & Olufsen – on presses. We had trouble with the touchpad,
the laptop’s underside. They’ve got some however: its smooth, wide panel gives plenty
oomph in terms of sheer volume, but of freedom for moving the cursor around,
lack bass and get muddled easily. but it has sensitivity issues.
Palm rejection barely works, for example,
TOUCHY SUBJECT even with the touchpad reduced to its lowest
Folding the laptop couldn’t be sensitivity setting, and tapping the touchpad
easier, as the hinge is nice and to execute a click command often sends the
smooth. It’s also fairly stable, not cursor off in a random direction. Conversely, it
sliding along surfaces as you sometimes refuses to move from a fixed point
tap the screen. The hinge is when you attempt to click elsewhere. The more
less sturdy in regular laptop accurate you try to be with the tap-to-click
mode, however, wobbling a function, the harder it is to control.
tad with each touch of a The fingerprint sensor also seems iffy.
finger or stylus. Twice, over the span of two weeks, we had to
The touchscreen itself reset our fingerprint ID as the sensor
is reliable and responsive, randomly began failing to accept it.

professional standards. However, a few equipped with integrated Intel UHD 620
individual colours – dark blues, purples, pinks graphics. The resulting lack of power was clear
and yellows – look undersaturated. in Dirt Showdown, a relatively undemanding
CPU performance is up on last year’s game: even with a 720p resolution enabled,
model, but it doesn’t reach the bar set by and quality settings at High instead of Ultra,
other laptops with the same chipset. Both the Spectre x360 only produced 36fps.
the 2019 Dell XPS 13 and the Razer Blade Battery life is also fairly underwhelming.
Stealth 13 run on an Intel Core i7-8565U, and The Spectre x360 lasted 7h 50m in our video
have superior benchmark results. playback test, which is a couple of hours
In our 4K benchmark test, which measures shorter than the XPS 13 and the Yoga C930.
a laptop’s proficiency at image editing, video Daily recharges will therefore be essential,
editing and multitasking, the HP Spectre x360 although nearly eight hours is certainly an
13 achieved an overall score of 78. In the exact improvement on the 2018 Spectre x360,
same test, the Dell XPS 13 scored 95 and the which only lasted 5h 17m in the same test.
Razer Blade Stealth 13 managed an even better
115. Even the Lenovo Yoga C930, which runs ROTATE AGENT
on a lesser Intel Core i5-8250U, managed a That’s the new Spectre x360 in a nutshell:
score of 80 in the same conditions. it’s a step up from the previous version,
A much more successful feature, and one Re-running the benchmarks with combining higher performance with longer
that’s new to the Spectre x360 series, is HP CoreTemp running confirmed our suspicions battery life, and yet it still feels dated in 2019.
Sure View. A tap of the F1 key drastically that poor internal heat management was the Inconsistent design is partly to blame – the
reduces the display’s viewing angles, making it culprit. Each of the CPU’s four cores hit a bottom half is all sleek and angular, while the
impossible to see what’s on the screen unless maximum temperature of 100°C while under top half has those chunky black bezels – as is
you’re looking at it straight on. If someone load, which is the processor’s safety limit – its sub-par heat management. Ultimately,
sitting to the right or left of you tries to peak after that, it’s forced to dial back performance there’s nothing the Spectre x360 does that
at your laptop while Sure View is activated, in order to cool down and reach safe levels. another 13in laptop can’t do better.
they’ll see a mostly blanked-out white screen. Externally, it doesn’t get too hot to the That’s a shame, because there is some
It’s a nifty security feature, and although it touch and, even when the CPU is working great stuff here, including the Sure View
won’t stop peeping eyes if they’re looking overtime, the keyboard area is still screen-hiding capability. For £1,200, however,
from above or over your shoulder, it could comfortable to use. The underside of the base you can do a lot better.
well give privacy-conscious users a bit more gets warmer (50°C, in some places) when the Tom Bruce
confidence using their laptop in public. laptop is running a demanding application.
SPECIFICATIONS
ON REFLECTION FILES ALL ROUND
The display itself is decent enough, The Spectre x360 13 held its own in the AS • RAM
performance-wise. Its main issue is a relatively SSD benchmark, with the 512GB PCI-E SSD
16GB • DIMENSIONS 309x218x14.7mm • WEIGHT 1.33kg •
SCREEN SIZE 13.3in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 •
low peak brightness of 292.9cd/m2, which clocking a sequential file read speed of GRAPHICS ADAPTOR Intel UHD Graphics 620 • TOTAL
doesn’t help the reflective panel deal with 1,982MB/s and a sequential write speed STORAGE 512GB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10
overbearing lights. Contrast ratio is a lot of 240MB/s. While the latter is low for Home • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS store.hp.com
better, at 1,334:1, and sRGB coverage of 89.2% an NVMe drive, it’s a common enough issue • PART CODE 13-ap0001na
is reasonable. As mentioned, there are 4K that this SSD is more or less on par with
variants, but the 13in screen is a good fit for most of its 13in rivals. Only the Razer Windows overall 78
the standard Full HD resolution. Blade Stealth 13 stands out as having a Multitasking 62
The only issue worth mentioning is a lack significant edge, with a slightly better read Battery life 7h 50m
of colour accuracy. Not so much on average: a speed and a far superior write speed. 0% -50 Reference +50 +100
measured delta-E of 2.72 means the Spectre We wouldn’t recommend the non-GTX See page 106 for performance details
x360 generally looks fine, even if it’s not up to 1050 Ti models for gaming, as they’ll only be

WINDOWS 10 GAMING LAPTOP
ASUS ROG
Zephyrus S GX701
★★★★★
£3,280 • From www.ebuyer.com
VERDICT
It’s a hefty investment, but the GX701 is more
powerful and portable than most 17.3in laptops
THE ROG ZEPHYRUS family can claim to

contain some of the best gaming laptops in
the world, if also some of the most expensive.
Anyone unfamiliar with the range might also
look upon the new ROG Zephyrus S GX701
and be confused as to why the keyboard has
been shunted all the way to the front.
Besides there being a fairly mundane
answer to this (improved heat dissipation, full-size USB3.1 port, with another two USB3.1 benchmarks, exactly the same as the MSI P65
mainly), the up-close-and-personal keyboard ports, one USB Type-C port and a Kensington Creator (Shopper 375), which has the same
is nothing new to Asus. That said, there have lock slot on the right. It’s a decent selection, Intel chip. MSI’s laptop is a lot cheaper – over
been some big changes to the GX701. It now although having no SD card slot is a shame. £1,200 cheaper, in fact – but its GTX 1070 GPU
has a 17.3in screen, up from the previous The keyboard position is no easier to get isn’t anywhere near as fast as the RTX 2080.
GX501’s 15.6in, but the bezels have shrunk used to than it was on previous Zephyrus Part of that price difference is also down to
significantly to keep its dimensions similar. laptops. For a start, there are no palm rests, this GX701 spec’s enormous 1TB SSD. As is
This, in turn, has forced the complete removal which means your wrists either have to hover frustratingly common in laptops, write speed
of the built-in webcam; instead, you now get a above the keyboard or lie flat on the desk. The wasn’t as good as NVMe drives are capable of
wired Micro USB camera to plug in. latter feels really awkward if sitting too close – we recorded a 500MB/s write speed – but
to the laptop. And, because the touchpad at least read speeds were decent, at 1,259MB/s.
THINNER TAKES ALL takes up so much space on the right-hand Battery life has been the downfall of many
There are some flaws to this approach (the side, the keyboard is more compact than on a gaming laptop, and the GX701’s result of
included cable for the camera is very short, your average gaming laptop. Key travel is 3h 7m in our video playback test looks pretty
but you can replace it with a longer Micro minimal and keys have a light feel to them, bad. Still, it’s more forgivable in the context of
USB cable), but it means the ROG Zephyrus S but they do produce a satisfying clack. the competition; the old GX501 only lasted
GX701 is a pleasantly manageable size, at least The touchpad’s vertical orientation also 2h 20m, and that had a smaller screen.
by 17.3in gaming laptop standards. It’s only feels counter-intuitive, although this being a Most gaming laptops rarely go much further
18.7mm thick, which is all the more impressive gaming laptop, a mouse is pretty much than four hours, so you’ll be needing to make
knowing there are such high-end components essential anyway. regular use of the charging cable in any case.
as an Intel Core i7-8750H processor, 16GB of
DDR4 RAM and an 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX SETTING THE TEMPO PRESTIGE ITEM
2080 Max-Q graphics chip inside. As for the screen, the refresh rate is a great It’s easy to balk at the ROG Zephyrus S
A magnesium alloy chassis makes it mostly help to high fps games, and the IPS panel GX701’s price, and that’s understandable. The
durable, although there’s a flimsy plastic plate mostly performs well. Brightness could be £2,250 Razer Blade 15 (Shopper 370) is better
on the underside that elevates the laptop’s higher – we measured it peaking at just value overall, even with its less powerful GPU
base when the lid is opened. The idea is to 296cd/m2 – but the matt finish helps with and smaller SSD. Even so, those lucky enough
give the power centre more space to dissipate glare, and the high 1,412: contrast ratio lends to be able to afford this slimline powerhouse
heat, but the plate feels as if it would break all plenty of pop to images. will very much enjoy it – so long as the
too easily. We also got the power cable Colour performance doesn’t look so keyboard positioning doesn’t feel too strange.
trapped in the gap when trying to close the good by the numbers: SRGB coverage is a Tom Bruce
lid, so caution is advised. middling 86.9%, and average delta-E is 2.25.
The display runs at 1,920x1,080 with a Nonetheless, the screen looks fine in practice, SPECIFICATIONS
smooth 144Hz refresh rate, but if you’d prefer and we didn’t notice any glaring hue issues
to connect to a desktop monitor there are when running games. • RAM
PROCESSOR Hexa-core 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-8750H
single HDMI and DisplayPort-enabled USB Crucially, the GX701 makes short work of SCREEN SIZE 17.3in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 •
Type-C ports on the left. Here, there’s also a even highly intensive games. Using the High GRAPHICS ADAPTOR 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q
quality preset in Metro: Last Light Redux • TOTAL STORAGE 1TB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM
at native resolution netted us an Windows 10 Home • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS
www.asus.com/uk • PART CODE GX701GX-EV016R
extremely smooth 155fps, while Dirt
Showdown hit 111fps with Ultra settings.
The SteamVR performance test also returned Windows overall 184
a perfect score of 11, so you can plug in a Multitasking 191
headset to the HDMI port and run any VR Battery life 3h 7m
game at its best settings. 0% -50 Reference +50 +100
The CPU performs admirably, See page 106 for performance details
too, scoring 184 overall in our

WINDOWS 10 CONVERTIBLE LAPTOP
LENOVO Yoga C930

★★★★★
£1,354 • From www.lenovo.com
VERDICT
A high-performance speaker set helps the
Yoga C930 overcome its shortcomings
ONE OF THE best things about convertible

laptops is their flexibility, and not just in the
physical sense. The ability to quickly switch
between a productivity-aiding ultraportable
and a big-screen tablet to watch videos has
long been a strength of the format. Lenovo’s
Yoga C930, however, focuses on the
entertainment side, incorporating a Dolby
Atmos-branded speaker into the 360° hinge.
These are, by some margin, the best
speakers we’ve heard on a laptop. Besides an
impressive level of volume, there’s enough
bass kick to rival a medium-sized Bluetooth plasticky, but it’s been fully incorporated into 80 overall, edging out the Core i7-powered
speaker, and music comes through with power the laptop’s design rather than being left as Spectre x360 13. Gaming performance is low,
and clarity – nothing like the tinny, muddled an afterthought. There’s a slot on the rear as both laptops use integrated Intel UHD 620
playback most laptops manage. There’s also a edge in which the stylus can be stored and graphics – the Yoga C930 produced 41fps at
pair of downwards-firing woofers, which can charged at the same time. 720p, dropping to 25fps at native 1080p – and
add an atmospheric rumbling to films and TV The lack of connection ports is a shame. we recorded an SSD write speed of just
shows. It’s excellent work by Lenovo and Dolby. These are limited to one full-size USB3.1 port, 427.6MB/s, although read speeds were much
Sadly, the same can’t be said of the 13.9in, two USB Type-C ports (though these support more competitive at 1,764.6MB/s.
1,920x1,080 display. It’s not terrible, just not Thunderbolt 3) and a 3.5mm audio jack. Battery life is also very good, with the
up to the standards of the speakers: take the One other neat feature is the webcam Yoga C930 only running dry after 10h 4m of
low maximum brightness of 322cd/m2, for shutter. This is a very welcome import from our video-looping battery test. After the
example, or the low 917:1 contrast ratio that Lenovo’s ThinkPad range, and easily flips over disappointment of the screen, that should
makes images look somewhat flat. the camera lens for greater privacy. be very good news to streaming enthusiasts:
Colours are off, too. The Yoga C930’s panel Dependable keyboards are another you should be able to watch several movies
produces only 79.5% of the sRGB colour Lenovo speciality, and the Yoga C930’s is no in a row before needing a recharge.
gamut and has an average delta-E of 3.74, exception. The chiclet keyboard is laid out
denoting mediocre colour accuracy. In the right well, with plenty of space between keys. SOUND INVESTMENT
lighting conditions, it can still be an acceptable Travel distance is minimal, which many might At its initial unveiling at IFA 2018, the Lenovo
screen for watching movies, but for £1,354 struggle with, but this can also lend itself to Yoga C930 looked full of promise and, for the
(and considering the entertainment focus), speedy, free-flowing typing. LED backlighting most part, it has delivered. There are some
we’d expect better. You’ll also have to be wary can be turned on or off by tapping Fn and the letdowns, such as the dim display and limited
of reflections on the screen’s glossy finish. spacebar, though the actual backlighting isn’t number of ports, not to mention the high
really bright enough to properly illuminate the price. However, the speakers give you a degree
PEN PUSHER keys in all but the darkest ambient conditions. of quality that you generally don’t see on
Elsewhere, the Yoga C930 maintains its series’ laptops at all, including far more expensive
recognisable styling. It’s sleek and reasonably PRINT PRESS ones. As an entertainment device, then, the
lightweight for an almost-14in laptop, weighing The touchpad is well executed, although again Yoga C930 is worth it, even if there are
1.4kg, and has a chassis hewn from sturdy there’s not much travel when depressing the better-value convertibles for more general use.
aluminium. There’s also a conveniently lower half for left and right clicks. The surface Tom Bruce
bundled stylus, which is a bit small and is smooth and sensitive, and the touchpad
ideally placed; it’s practically centre-on so SPECIFICATIONS
there’s equal palm rest space for both
hands on either side. • RAM
To the right of the touchpad, below the SCREEN SIZE 13.9in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 •
keyboard, there’s a square fingerprint sensor, GRAPHICS ADAPTOR Intel UHD Graphics 620 • TOTAL
which grants a practically instantaneous STORAGE 512GB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10
unlock. We found it reliable enough that we Home • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.lenovo.
com • PART CODE C930-13IKB
never had to make multiple sign-in attempts, or
switch to a different authentication method.
Although it’s far from the most powerful Windows overall 80
£1,354 laptop in existence, the Yoga C930 held Multitasking 66
its own in our benchmarks. Even with the Battery life 10h 4m
relatively lowly 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8250U 0% -50 Reference +50 +100
processor backed by 8GB of RAM – a bit See page 106 for performance details
stingy considering the price – the C930 scored

QUAD HD ULTRAWIDE MONITOR
PHILIPS
Brilliance 499P9H
★★★★★
£876 • From www.cclonline.com
VERDICT
Immense size and resolution make for an interesting monitor,
but its inconsistent design and performance cause problems
THE PHILIPS BRILLIANCE 499P9H is one The Brilliance 499P9H is a little inconsistent 405cd/m2 is fantastic for a desktop monitor
of the most outlandish monitors we’ve when it comes to features beyond the screen as well, not to mention enough to meet the
ever seen. Its curved panel is designed itself, too. For instance, it has three USB3.1 VESA DisplayHDR 400’s criteria. Lastly, we
for productivity, but at 49in diagonally ports, a USB Type-C port and an Ethernet measured the Brilliance 499P9H covering
with a 32:9 aspect ratio, it’s not exactly connector, which is great, but they’re all 99.8% of the sRGB gamut, which is high
sober and sensible. installed at the back and face downwards, enough to handle the demands of mainstream
Then again, Philips is angling it as a which makes them tricky to reach, given colour work and together with the high
replacement for a dual-monitor setup, rather the monitor’s size. contrast ratio delivers excellent vibrancy.
than just a show-off single screen. This is The two HDMI 2.0 ports and DisplayPort Unfortunately, while the Brilliance 499P9H
evident in the 5,120x1,440 resolution – the 1.4 connector are fine. So are the two 5W excels in places, it falls short in others.
equivalent of two 2,560x1,440 displays side speakers: they provide enough quality and Despite its high sRGB coverage it could only
by side. That’s a huge amount of screen real volume for casual media, even if the bass is a manage 87.4% of the DCI P3 colour gamut,
estate and, unlike with dual monitors, there’s little too aggressive. There’s a Full HD webcam which is used for creating HDR content, and
no set of bezels running down the middle. that works with Windows Hello, and it can be the sheer size of the panel meant it clearly
You can even connect two PCs or laptops in hidden in the top bezel for privacy. struggled to maintain brightness uniformity.
order to run two devices using the same It looks nice, too: it has slim bezels, subtle The screen lost 32% of its backlight strength
monitor, keyboard and mouse, thanks to a logos and a smart, minimalist metal stand in the top-left corner, 30% in the top-right
clever integrated KVM switch. that nonetheless offers good adjustability. corner, and 17% and 22% across the top edge.
There’s 130mm of height adjustment, At the bottom of the screen, meanwhile, the
LOST BILLIONS alongside side-to-side swivelling and forwards backlight weakened by 20% in the left corner
Get beyond its imposing design, however, and and backwards tilting. 100mm VESA and 24% in the right corner.
this monitor is a little more ordinary. The mounting is also supported, if you can find
Brilliance 499P9H uses VA panel technology hardware that will support its 15.3kg weight. BROAD GAME
rather than IPS, and the screen is 8-bit colour This heaviness also makes it harder to stand The huge width and resolution of the
rather than 10-bit colour. That means it can to keep everything steady, and as such it’s Brilliance 499P9H are undoubtedly a boon
display 16.7 million rather than 1.07 billion quite easy to make the screen wobble. for plenty of work scenarios: there’s lots of
colours, which rules out its usefulness for the space for applications, and it will be easier to
most demanding design work. The refresh DARK CORNERS work on this panel than on an inconsistent
rate, meanwhile, tops out at 70Hz, which is It’s at least easy to use the onscreen display multimonitor setup. You get good USB
good for an office monitor but means there (OSD). It’s well organised and is navigated by connectivity, a surprising amount of
are better ultrawide options for gaming. a row of small, snappy buttons beneath the adjustment and a fast, navigable OSD.
This screen supports HDR, but it only bottom bezel, with mode-switching and input- In many key areas, however, Philips’ vast
uses the VESA DisplayHDR 400 standard. switching options on several of the buttons. display doesn’t match more conventional
That’s one of VESA’s weaker standards, and Performance testing also reveals some monitors: you’ll get better colour accuracy
it requires a burst brightness level of good news. Colours are accurate, with an and gamut coverage from the Samsung CF791
400cd/m2, a prolonged brightness level of average delta-E of just 1.6 in Office mode, and (Shopper 356), for example. What’s more, the
320cd/m2 and a black point of 0.1cd/m2. if you switch to sRGB mode this improves Brilliance 499P9H’s HDR support is entry level,
Those are good figures for any normal even further to 1.1. A black point of 0.19cd/m2 and its poor uniformity hampers its ability
screen, of course, but they’re not particularly and contrast ratio of 2,126:1 are even more for complex, colour-sensitive work.
outlandish for any screen at this sort of price. impressive, and the peak brightness of Mike Jennings
SPECIFICATIONS
SCREEN SIZE 49in• RESOLUTION 5,120x1,440 • SCREEN
TECHNOLOGY VA • REFRESH RATE 70Hz • VIDEO
INPUTS HDMI, DisplayPort • WARRANTY Three years RTB
• DETAILS www.philips.co.uk • PART CODE 499P9H/00

CONNECTION PORTS
HDMI x2 DisplayPort USB3.1 x3
USB Type-C Ethernet

ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE.
This is the E-M1X – an all new category of OM-D for the demanding professional.
Building on unrivalled OM-D system mobility, the E-M1X is tougher, faster and smarter
with the world’s best image stabilisation* and stand out new capabilities including 50MP
HiRes handheld shooting.
Built-in vertical grip houses two batteries for extended shooting with optimal ergonomic
design for pro photographers. All new shutter mechanism is tested to 400,000 actuations.
Re-developed autofocus system takes high-speed performance to another level with twin
processors while the new MyMenu option provides the ultimate in customised operability.
Demand the ultimate in system mobility, performance and reliability, the new E-M1X.
* Based on the CIPA standard, within system cameras, E-M1X with
Find out more at your Olympus Pro dealer or visit www.olympus.co.uk M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO: 7.5 EV compensation, as of 1/2019.
GAMING GRAPHICS CARD
MSI GeForce GTX

1660 Ti Gaming X 6G
★★★★★
£300 • From www.scan.co.uk
VERDICT
Jettisoning full ray-tracing and DLSS for a
cheaper card is almost a winning strategy,
but the RTX 2060 is ultimately better
IT WAS ALWAYS likely that Nvidia’s Geforce

RTX graphics cards wouldn’t entirely kill off
the older GTX series – RTX cards are defined
by their baked-in support for ray-tracing and
DLSS anti-aliasing, but these still require at card, largely thanks to its horrendous coil respectively (the RX 590 managed 79fps and
least fairly beefy GPUs to pull off, so cheaper whine, there are lots of other RX 590 models 39fps), but it’s still very impressive that a
cards without these features would still be with similar performance, so the GTX 1660 Ti £300 graphics card can run so smoothly at
likely unless Nvidia wanted to abandon the will need to clearly outperform, and not just even extreme resolutions.
budget market completely. match, its most recent AMD rival. MSI’s card is cooler and more efficient, too.
What we didn’t expect was that there Dirt Showdown gives it a poor start, Perhaps not when idling – its core temperature
would be a GTX successor to the mid-range however: at 1,920x1,080, the GTX 1660 Ti here, 42°C, is relatively high – but under load it
GTX 1060 (Shopper 345), something that’s Gaming X 6G only managed 99fps – 16fps tends to stay around 63°C, with a 64°C peak.
already been replaced by the RTX 2060 behind the RX 590 – and its 93fps at The RX 590, by contrast, went up to around
(Shopper 375). There are two, in fact: the GTX 2,560x1,440 was 15fps slower. Only at 4K 70°C under load, and peaked at 74°C, all
1660 and the slightly faster GTX 1660 Ti. (3,840x2,160) did the Nvidia GPU have an while using as much as 255W of power. We
Surprise aside, this makes a certain sense. advantage, with 76fps to the RX 590’s 67fps. measured the GTX 1660 Ti Gaming X 6G creep
As good as the RTX 2060 is, it’s pricey for a As always, these results were recorded in our up to 102% of its stated 130W TDP, but that’s
mid-ranger, and the lack of games with either test PC, with an Intel Core i7-4770K processor still miles off the RX 590’s consumption.
ray-tracing or DLSS integration means these and the highest Ultra graphics quality setting. Despite the price difference, then, this is a
features alone aren’t yet worth splashing out better mid-range graphics card than the RX
more for. Notably, Nvidia has recently enabled RECOVERY MODE 590, but there’s also the issue of how the GTX
very basic ray-tracing functionality on most In our other games tests, the GTX 1660 Ti 1660 Ti compares to the RTX 2060, its most
GTX cards via a driver update, although they Gaming X 6G did considerably better. In immediate Nvidia superior. While it is a bit
won’t be able to run, say, Metro: Exodus’s Metro: Last Light Redux, running on Very warmer and thirstier for power, the RTX 2060
global ray-traced illumination while High settings with SSAA enabled, its 64fps outperforms the GTX 1660 Ti in all situations.
maintaining playable performance. result at 1,920x1,080 manages to do what the To use the former’s 2,560x1,440 results as a
RX 590 couldn’t: break 60fps in this very guide, it managed 116fps in Dirt Showdown,
TI FIGHTER taxing game. Its 36fps at 2,560x1,440 is also 46fps in Metro and 105fps. Maybe that
Either way, there’s still room for a more moderately better than the RX 590’s 30fps – doesn’t represent a whole generation’s worth
affordable mid-range Nvidia card for PC at these lower counts, every frame matters of difference, but for just £29 more, it’s hard
builders who can live without those two key – although we’d recommend turning SSAA to turn down this higher core performance
RTX features, and we’ve been testing this off at this resolution. At 4K, it’s an absolute while also getting full ray-tracing and DLSS
MSI-built version of the GTX 1660 Ti to see must, as the GTX 1660 Ti Gaming X 6G only support, even if just for future-proofing.
whether this is it. At £300, it’s one of the produced 15fps – a scant 3fps more than the
more expensive partner card models available RX 590 – with all settings on maximum. WILD CARD
(others start at as little as £260), but it’s nicely Tomb Raider allowed the GTX 1660 Ti We still need to test out a GTX 1660, but for
made, with a sturdy aluminium backplate and Gaming X 6G to open up larger leads, now the RTX 2060 remains your best bet for
some tastefully positioned RGB lighting strips. especially at 1,920x1,080. Using this resolution, mid-range gaming. Not that the GTX 1660 Ti is
Crucially, it’s also £29 cheaper than the RTX with Ultimate quality settings and FXAA, it a failure; it’s a respectably speedy GPU, and this
2060 Founders Edition. scored 150fps, a huge win over the RX 590’s MSI version is cool, quiet and nicely designed.
However, it’s also £70 more than the XFX 116fps. The differences weren’t so gigantic at James Archer
Radeon RX 590 Fatboy 8GB (Shopper 374). 2,560x1,440 and 4K, with the GTX 1660 Ti
While we don’t recommend this particular Gaming X 6G averaging 95fps and 47fps SPECIFICATIONS
GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti • MEMORY 6GB GDDR6 •
GRAPHICS CARD LENGTH 247mm • WARRANTY Three
years repair and replace • DETAILS www.msi.com •
PART CODE GTX 1660 Ti Gaming X 6G
Dirt Showdown 99fps

Metro: Last Light 64fps
Tomb Raider 150fps
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
See page 106 for performance details

ALL-IN-ONE LIQUID CPU COOLER
SILVERSTONE
Tundra TD02-RGB
★★★★★
£60 • From www.scan.co.uk
VERDICT
No other watercooler matches the
TD02-RGB’s balance of low pricing and
high performance
ANOTHER MONTH, ANOTHER all-in-one It’s the same process for AMD sockets and keeping core temperatures between 45°C
(AIO) watercooler with RGB lighting. mainstream Intel sockets, and the Intel 2011 and 51°C when under the heavy load of our
The TD02-RGB is a little more interesting and 2066 sockets make things even easier: 4K benchmarks. Its absolute peak temperature
than most, however: it’s only £60, at a you just need to screw in a set of four of 53°C also beats the MasterLiquid’s 56°C,
time when 240mm, RGB-equipped AIO standoffs. In any case, the water block – which although idle performance was about even,
coolers are still new enough to occupy the has an integrated mounting bracket – can be with the TD02-RGB keeping things within
£100-plus range. That could potentially easily attached with some thumbscrews. the 27-34°C range.
make it a great budget option, so long as While thermal paste isn’t pre-applied, a small With the CPU overclocked to 3.9GHz, the
build quality and cooling performance are tube is included, and in a way this is better as TD02-RGB still asserted itself, producing idle
up to the task. you can adjust how much you put on temperatures between 27° and 35°C, and load
First impressions don’t exactly scream according to the size of your CPU. temperatures between 50° and 56°C. The peak
cheapness and corner-cutting. The dual The TD02-RGB also avoids one of the most temperature only rose to 58°C, an excellent
120mm fans and rubbery tubes are irritating mistakes made by AIO coolers: short result for such an affordable 240mm cooler.
impressively robust, and a huge range of
AMD and Intel sockets – both old and new –
are supported. The only noteworthy
omission is the TR4 slot used by AMD’s
SilverStone’s AIO is in the very strong position of being
gigantic Threadripper chips, although the
far more common AM4 slot is catered for
thriftier and better at cooling than many of its rivals
out of the box.
cables. It’s easy to connect up either of the It’s not among the very best, as the
PARTS AND CRAFTS two fans to a 4-pin cooling header even at the NZXT Kraken X62 (Shopper 348) and
There’s no printed manual, so you’ll have to go opposite end of a full-size ATX motherboard, Asus ROG Ryuo 240 (Shopper 375) both
online to download the instruction guide, but which isn’t as common a quality as we’d like. kept temperatures even lower, especially
putting the TD02-RGB together is easy However, as useful as longer power cables under load. That said, these are significantly
enough. It’s slightly similar to the Cooler are, the abundance of separate RGB cables more expensive coolers than the TD02-RGB,
Master MasterLiquid ML240R RGB (Shopper end up making a mess. This is partly down and neither of them has addressable RGB
366) in that the only fiddly bit is securing the to the lack of a dedicated RGB controller, lighting as a focus. SilverStone’s AIO is
mounting screws to a plate that sits behind as you get with the MasterLiquid ML240R therefore in the very strong position of being
the motherboard’s CPU socket, although this RGB or Deepcool Castle 240 RGB (Shopper both thriftier and better at cooling than the
can be done separately before sliding the 368). Instead of all the wires needed for fully likes of the MasterLiquid ML240R RGB,
whole thing into place. customisable lighting being directed to hub, Castle 240 RGB and the Thermaltake Floe
the water block and each fan need to be Riing RGB 240 TT Premium Edition.
daisy-chained together (the requisite
connectors are at least included) before CHEAP FREEZE
being plugged into a single 12V RGB header It is, therefore, a fantastic addition to any
on the motherboard. sufficiently sized PC, especially if that PC has a
If you don’t have a motherboard with an motherboard with a built-in RGB controller. If
RGB controller (and thus no RGB header), you not, the TD02-RGB is still inexpensive enough
can still make the fans and pump glow a solid that it can be run with simple blue lighting (or
blue by hooking up all those wires directly to no lighting at all – we tried leaving the RGB
the PSU instead. Nonetheless, the absence of cables completely unplugged and it still
a dedicated controller both limits the systems works fine) without the sense that you’ve
in which RGB lighting – a key feature – will wasted your cash. Still, check for that little 12V
work, and makes for an incredibly long and header if you want to make the most of it.
difficult-to-manage chain of cables dangling James Archer
within the PC’s case. It’s the first and starkest
reminder of the TD02-RGB’s low-cost nature. SPECIFICATIONS
COMFORTABLY NUMB TECHNOLOGY Closed loop • FANS 2x 120mm • SOCKET Intel

LGA 2066/2011/1151/1150/1155/1156/1366/775, AMD AM4/
Performance, however, is anything but low
end. Cooling an Intel Core i7-4770K at
AM3/AM2/FM2+/FM2/FM1 • RADIATOR DIMENSIONS (NO
FAN) 120x274x32mm • WARRANTY One year RTB• DETAILS
stock speeds, it managed to outperform www.silverstonetek.com • PART CODE SST-TD02-RGB
the £110 MasterLiquid ML240R RGB by

500GB SSD
WD Blue SN500
★★★★★
£70 • From www.wd.com
VERDICT
Newly upgraded to NVMe, the cheap Blue SN500 will make you cheerful
WD BLUE IS a sub-brand that’s produced also slightly cheaper than the Blue SN500, average of those as well, and the Blue SN500
some excellent storage hardware. WD Blue working out at 12.7p per gigabyte (albeit comes out with 792MB/s, a practically
internal hard disks are some of the best having had a few months for prices to drop; insignificant difference to the P1’s 789MB/s.
around, and WD Blue SSDs have typically it launched at 16p per gigabyte). If there are distinctions worth mentioning,
followed the same path of delivering good Interestingly, CrystalDiskMark revealed they would probably be how the SN500 often
speeds despite relatively low pricing. these two budget drives trade blows when has faster write speeds, while the P1 is faster
However, there has been one issue with running at their best possible speeds. In the at reading. An argument could be made that
M.2-based Blue SSDs in particular: they’ve easygoing sequential tests, the Blue SN500 the P1 is therefore better for gaming systems
always used SATA instead of NVMe. That recorded a read speed of 1,771MB/s and a or applications that take a long time to load,
means despite using a motherboard port write speed of 1,454MB/s, so it’s slower at but frankly we’re not convinced you’d notice
that can handle four-figure MB/s transfers, reading data than the P1 (which recorded a a meaningful difference between these two
they’ve never been any faster than their 1,910MB/s read speed) but also much faster SSDs in everyday use. The Blue SN500 is also
larger, 2.5in counterparts. at writing data, considering the Crucial SSD’s somewhat more durable, its 500GB model
This finally changes with the WD Blue 981MB/s write speed result. being rated for 300 terabytes written (TBW)
SN500, which switches to the NVMe The P1 was a little quicker overall in – twice that of the 500GB P1’s 150TBW – so it
specification, bringing huge speed boosts CrystalDiskMark’s tougher 4K sequential might be better suited to workstations.
while keeping in line with the Blue family test. The Blue SN500’s write speed result
history of budget-friendliness. The 500MB of 261MB/s is about 3MB/s faster than that BLUE BLAZES
model we tested, for instance, comes in at of the P1, but its read speed of 299MB/s is a Otherwise, however, there’s very little in it.
just 14p per gigabyte, and while the 250GB full 38MB/s slower. That’s no bad thing: both of these drives
model isn’t quite such good value at 20p Despite our own file transfer tests working are cheap yet fast, offering performance in
per gigabyte, it’s still very affordable. a lot differently to straight sequential tests, the most common file transfer tasks (rather
the Blue SN500 continued to show off a than purely sequential tests) that’s just a
KEEPING IT SMALL write speed advantage. In the huge file test, couple of steps down from the very best
While this might sound as if the Blue SN500 for example, it averaged a read speed of consumer SSDs, and far higher than you
has a clear path to success, there are a few 953MB/s, which is decent but not particularly might expect from a budget device. It’s a
limitations that come with being so cheap. fast, and a write speed of 1,063MB/s, which shame there’s no 1TB option for the Blue
Although switching to NVMe has produced a easily tops the P1’s 999MB/s. SN500, but then it does fill a gap left empty
big speed upgrade, its stated maximum read by the P1 – so you can have the 250GB Blue
speed of 1,700MB/s and maximum write CLOSE AT NAND SN500 if you only want a small SSD, or the
speed of 1,450MB/s are, by NVMe standards, It wasn’t as competitive in the large files test, P1 if you’d prefer a larger 1TB drive.
middling at best. That’s just for the 500GB as the Blue SN500’s read speed of 941MB/s James Archer
model, too: the 250GB drive is only given a and write speed of 965MB/s both fall behind
peak write speed of 1,300MB/s. the P1’s equivalent results, but the WD came SPECIFICATIONS
There’s also the lack of larger capacities, out on top in both parts of the most difficult
such as 1TB, effectively forcing the purchase small files test, averaging a 376MB/s read
CAPACITY 500GB • COST PER GIGABYTE 14p •
of an additional hard disk for anyone speed and a 475MB/s write speed. That latter
INTERFACE NVMe • CLAIMED READ 1,700MB/s •
CLAIMED WRITE 1,450MB/s • WARRANTY Five years RTB •
building a PC from scratch, as well as tough result is particularly strong – even one of the DETAILS www.wd.com • PART CODE WDS500G1B0C
competition from the Crucial P1 (Shopper 373). fastest overall SSDs we’ve tested, the
This has its own drawbacks, such as (in a Samsung 970 Evo Plus (Shopper 375), only Huge files 1,008MB/s
reversal of fortunes) there being no smaller produced a write speed of 440MB/s. Large files 953MB/s
capacity options below 500GB, but in our In the end, the Blue SN500 and Crucial P1 Small files 426MB/s
file-transfer benchmarks the P1 at least come incredibly close on performance.
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
managed to keep pace with much more Calculate the average overall speeds for the See page 106 for performance details
expensive NVMe SSDs. The 500GB model is huge, large and small file tests, then find the

EXTERNAL HARD DISK
TOSHIBA Canvio
Premium 4TB
★★★★★
£133 • From www.lambda-tek.com
VERDICT
It has some nice extra features, but the
Canvio Premium is barely faster than much
cheaper alternatives
BETWEEN FALLING SSD prices and

Thunderbolt 3 catching on as an enabler of
ultra-fast external drives, it’s understandable
that the Canvio Premium 4TB has been met appreciably practical speed in this test, coincidentally,
with mumbles rather than cheers. External hard bonus. Not the only one, also turned out to be 126MB/s.
disks aren’t dead – they’re still much cheaper either: you also get a suede Finally, the small file test produced a
than SSDs, especially if you directly compare carrying case and the option to use 109MB/s average read speed and a 118MB/s
capacities – but this is ultimately the largest Toshiba’s automatic backup and password- average write speed. This was one instance
version of a drive that’s been around since protection software, which cheekily doesn’t where the Canvio Premium did significantly
2016. What is there to get excited about? work with the cheaper Canvio Basics drives. outperform a rival, as the iStorage DiskAshur
One answer might be value: while the new So far, the Canvio Premium lives up to its Pro2 only reached a write speed of 55MB/s,
4TB model is more expensive than the existing name, but performance unfortunately doesn’t although that drive’s built-in encryption was
3TB, 2TB and 1TB versions, it has the lowest carry this on. Toshiba claims a maximum likely slowing it down.
cost per gigabyte of all four: a paltry 3.3p. The transfer rate of 5Gbit/s, which is 625MB/s,
3TB model isn’t far behind at 3.7p per but we couldn’t reach such speeds in JUST LIKE OLD TIMES
gigabyte, but the 2TB model leaps up to 4.5p, CrystalDiskMark’s standard sequential test, a The inconvenient truth with newly launching
and the 1TB model is 7p. With that in mind, benchmark that typically shows storage drives hard disks such as this – even if they’re just a
however, it’s also expensive for a 4TB hard
disk; most WD and Seagate alternatives sit
within the £80-£100 bracket.
At least this also carries over all the design
The inconvenient truth with new hard disks such as this is
qualities of its smaller predecessors, which still
stand up today. Measuring 78x109x18mm, it’s
that the core technology simply hasn’t advanced
a few millimetres thicker than older Canvio
Premiums but still small enough to comfortably at their very best. We recorded a write speed larger version of an older line – is that the core
fit in a pocket – something that’s not always a of 153MB/s, which is still pretty good, but read technology simply hasn’t advanced in the past
given with large-capacity external hard disks, speeds only came out at 138MB/s. few years, at least not to the extent that SSD
which need to include multiple platters stacked storage has. Paying more for a ‘Premium’
on top of one another. It also weighs just 225g, CRAWLER GEAR external HDD therefore only makes sense if it
and maintains the smart-looking aluminium Furthermore, the 4K sequential test utterly offers functionality beyond straightforward
top and sides, with reflective edges that set it hammered the Canvio Premium, with read and transfer speeds, as this is unlikely to vary
apart from cheaper Toshiba stablemates such write speeds dropping to just 0.6MB/s and much between products.
as the Canvio Basics and Canvio Ready series. 7.6MB/s respectively. In fairness, these aren’t To the Canvio Premium’s credit, it does
too unusual for a USB3-based hard disk – make an effort, what with its USB Type-C
C HERE Toshiba’s own Canvio Connect II only managed connectivity and bonus software compatibility.
It connects via a USB3 cable, which again a 0.5MB/s read speed and a 1.4MB/s write Still, if a faster SSD is really out of the
sounds downright geriatric by 2019 standards, speed – but they do show the weakness of the question, we’d rather save £50 and have
but since this is mechanical storage we’re format compared to even a basic solid-state the 4TB mechanical version of the WD My
dealing with, USB3.1 speeds wouldn’t help drive. The WD My Passport SSD, for instance, Passport, which also has automatic backup
anyway. It’s not all old hat, either. Included in was more than 30 times faster in both tests. and password-protection features.
the box is a USB3-to-USB Type-C adaptor, Our own file transfer tests continued the James Archer
which allows the Canvio Premium to work theme: the Canvio Premium performed well
with recent ultraportable laptops that ditch enough for a mechanical hard disk, but not to SPECIFICATIONS
full-size USB ports in pursuit of slimness. Of the extent that it stands out. Take its results
course, it won’t magically upgrade the hard in the huge file test: an average read speed of
CAPACITY 4TB • COST PER GIGABYTE 3.3p • INTERFACE
disk to Type-C transfer speeds, but it’s an 126MB/s and a write speed of 125MB/s are a
USB3 •CLAIMED READ 625MB/s • CLAIMED WRITE
625MB/s • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.
step down from its fastest sequential speeds, toshiba-storage.com • PART CODE HDTW240EB3CA
as is always the case, but they’re hardly
pushing the limits of the hardware. Huge files 126MB/s
The only surprise was that switching Large files 126MB/s
to the large file test, which should be Small files 114MB/s
tougher, didn’t produce a clear fall in
0% -50 Reference +50 +100
speeds – in fact, the average write speed See page 106 for performance details
rose slightly, to 126MB/s. The average read

MULTIFUNCTION PERIPHERAL
BROTHER
MFC-J5945DW
★★★★★
£324 • From www.printerland.co.uk
VERDICT
Brother’s MFC-J5945DW is a fast and
economical choice for A3 printing
IT’S NO SECRET that inkjets have been

slowly replacing laser printers in small and
home offices, and Brother’s MFC-J5945DW
demonstrates why. One of a new range of
single-function and multifunction office
inkjets, this MFP can print, scan, copy and fax
one- or two-sided A4 pages. It can also print
single-sided A3 pages, though not A3+. It has
two 250-sheet input trays in the base and a
100-sheet multipurpose feed at the back, all
This is an impressively fast inkjet, printing black text at
of which support A3. There’s also a 50-sheet
automatic document feeder (ADF) on top,
20ppm, colour graphics at 10.2ppm, and managing a heady
although that’s only A4.
The MFC-J5945DW supports wired and
5.0 images per minute when duplexing colour graphics
wireless networks, and is controlled via a
colour touchscreen. It’s an easy printer to become untidy, and can occasionally overrun dingy, but acceptable for most uses, while
install and use, but setting up involves a the stop. Having two output positions, photos aren’t really this printer’s forte.
one-off nine-minute wait for ink priming, manually selected, partially undermines the
and a 300MB download of Brother’s benefit of such flexible paper inputs. ECONOMY RUN
iPrint&Scan software on each PC. On the plus side, this is an impressively The MFC-J5945DW’s results may be closer
fast inkjet, printing black text at 20 pages per to decent than spectacular, but its running
GROWING PAINS minute (ppm), colour graphics at 10.2ppm, costs are impressively low: we calculated
The MFC-J5945DW’s A3 capability is certainly and managing a heady 5.0 images per minute just 3.7p per A4 page, which is about half
welcome, but it’s not perfectly executed. (ipm) when duplexing colour graphics. Each that of Epson’s competing WorkForce
The main paper trays need to be extended A3 page of black text took about 10 seconds, WF-7710DWF (Shopper 369).
to accept A3, but if you only expand the and even a page of rich colour graphics The MFC-J5945DW is a comprehensively
bottom tray then its paper becomes completed in 16 seconds. Connected via quicker device as well, though the WorkForce
partially exposed to dust. You need to Ethernet, all but one of our scan tests took WF-7710DWF generally matches or beats it
extend the output tray fully to receive A3 10 seconds or less, and even scanning our for quality: it also supports A3+ prints, A3
pages, but leave it there and A4 prints postcard photo at 1,200 dots per inch (dpi) scans, and duplex A3 prints and copies, yet
took just 25 seconds. it costs around £200 less. For quality and
This MFP can multitask, flexibility, we’d choose either the WorkForce
too, for example scanning WF-7710DWF or its two-tray variant, the
to one PC while printing WF-7720DTWF. Brother’s MFC-J5945DW is
from another one. a good effort, but we’d really only prefer it
We’ve seen better scan where its high speed and low running costs
results than those from are more important.
the MFC-J5945DW, but Simon Handby
while photos were too
dark and suffered a slight SPECIFICATIONS
aqua tint, documents
were more than adequate
TECHNOLOGY Piezo inkjet • MAXIMUM PRINT
for office purposes.
RESOLUTION 4,800x1,200dpi • MAXIMUM OPTICAL
SCAN RESOLUTION (OUTPUT BIT DEPTH) 1,200x1,200dpi
The ADF can scan both (24-bit)• DIMENSIONS 376x545x436mm • WEIGHT
sides in a single pass, so 20.9kg • MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A3 • WARRANTY One
duplex scans and copies year RTB • DETAILS www.brother.co.uk • PART CODE
MFCJ5945DWZU1
are fast, and come with
less chance of a paper
Mono speed 20ppm
jam; this is a good
Mixed colour 10.2ppm
device for archiving speed
lots of paperwork. Mono page cost 0.9p
Print quality was generally Colour page cost 2.8p
good, with impressive 0% -50 Reference +50 +100
⬆ The MFC-J5945DW is an easy printer to install and use, once you’ve black text in particular. See page 106 for performance details
downloaded Brother’s iPrint&Scan software Photocopies were a little

Monitors
Vivid, true-to-life colours

in an elegant design
276E7QDSW
CCL
COMPUTERS
WI-FI MESH EXTENDER
NETGEAR Orbi Outdoor RBS50Y

★★★★★
£250 • From www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
A fast, if expensive, mesh satellite, the RBS50Y is a great
way to extend your wireless network outside your home
MESH SYSTEMS HAVE largely been focused so it’s good that the to be used indoors or
on solving the problem of poor Wi-Fi inside RBS50Y can work with outdoors. In Outdoor
your home. After all, that’s where you use non-Orbi mesh systems. mode, the RBS50Y
your wireless system the most. Still, there’s Although the Orbi switches to dual-
a growing number of outdoor wireless Outdoor looks similar band mode, removing
applications, from security cameras to to other Orbi satellites, the standard 5GHz
devices enabling you to use your laptop or there are some key client channels. It’s
phone in the garden. That’s where the differences. First, bar entirely up to you
Netgear Orbi Outdoor RBS50Y comes in. the weather-sealed which mode you pick.
As you can tell from the name, this power input, there are
product integrates into the excellent Orbi no ports on this model. LIGHTEN UP
mesh system, extending your mesh system That’s because the The next option for
outside your home. It can also operate in satellite has to be the Orbi Outdoor is
Extender mode, connecting to any other weather-proof, which how you want the light to
router to boost your Wi-Fi. adding Ethernet work. As well as showing you
ports would prevent. status information, you can turn on the
FULL CIRCLE Second, the satellite’s down-firing LED to act as an
The RBS50Y is a better product when RBS50Y requires a little outdoor light. You can even set a schedule for
connected to an Orbi router, as it gives you effort to get it where you want. Rather than it in the app, and adjust the brightness, or just
all of the main benefits of a mesh system: a just having feet to stand it on, the satellite turn it off completely. It’s just a little thing,
single network name and seamless roaming, has a mounting bracket that lets you screw it but one that makes the Orbi Outdoor feel
where your devices are pushed to connect to to a wall or the optional stand. more like a proper outdoor product.
the strongest Wi-Fi satellite. The RBS50Y is Wall-mounting is the better permanent Even more important is performance.
also part of the Disney Circle network, so you option, but using the stand is handy if you The RBS50Y has the same specs as the
can use this integrated app for parental temporarily want to place the satellite on a top-end Orbi RBK50 system, which means
controls. Then again, it’s nice to have options, table or you have a bench you want to put it that you get tri-band Wi-Fi with 400Mbit/s
on. You’ll need a protected all-weather 2.4GHz and 866Mbit/s 5GHz channels for
outdoor power socket to plug the Orbi into. clients, as well as a dedicated 1,733Mbit/s
Getting it plugged in and turned on isn’t 5GHz backhaul channel for communication
hard, although it would have been nice if the with other Orbi devices.
power cable was a little longer: 2m is OK for Testing with the Orbi placed in the
wall-mounting in some locations, but a bit back garden, we saw upload speeds of
more flexibility would help, particularly if 459Mbit/s and download speeds of
your outdoor socket’s not that close to 304Mbit/s. That’s a good 100Mbit/s faster
where you want the RBS50Y to go. than we’ve previously managed outdoors,
using an Orbi placed in the kitchen window
IN SYNC to boost range. Outside, on the side street,
Once turned on, the Orbi Outdoor needs we could still get a strong signal, showing how
to be synchronised to your home network. powerful this system really is.
In the case of an existing Orbi system, it’s a With its excellent performance and neat
matter of using the app and then hitting the integration into the Orbi system (not to
Sync button on the back of the RBS50Y. mention that it can work in extender mode
The connection should be fairly quick to with other networks), the Orbi Outdoor is a
make, although we found that we had to brilliant way to extend your wireless network
update the RBS50Y’s firmware before we outside, even if it is a little expensive.
could get a stable connection. David Ludlow
Once connected, the Sync button on the
back is disabled. That’s for security reasons, SPECIFICATIONS
to prevent someone else from hijacking
the connection and joining your network. •
WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ac STATED SPEED 1x 866Mbit/s
(5GHz), 1x 1,733Mbit/s (5GHz), 1x 400Mbit/s (2.4GHz) •
You’ve also got a bit of configuration to do. •
USB PORTS 0 WALL MOUNTABLE Yes WARRANTY •
In the app, you’ll see that there’s an option •
Two years RTB DETAILS www.netgear.co.uk •
PART CODE RBS50Y
to set the Orbi Outdoor to Indoor or Outdoor
mode. This setting isn’t mentioned in the
5m 381.5Mbit/s
manual but is there for compliance. In the UK, 0 100 200 300 400
5GHz channels 36 to 64 are locked for indoor See page 106 for performance details
use only, and channels 100 to 140 are allowed

WIRELESS IN-EAR HEADPHONES
CREATIVE
Outlier Air
★★★★★
£75 • From uk.creative.com
VERDICT
These fully wireless headphones are a superb bargain,
sounding better than much more expensive sets
CREATIVE KNOWS A thing or two about perfectly synchronised, something the them in their charging case, they won’t vanish
digital audio, having been making headphones, Samsung Galaxy Buds struggled with. from your phone’s Bluetooth list and they
speakers and sound cards for over 30 years. Battery life is excellent by wireless standards. can be used independently from each other.
The Outlier Air, however, are its very first The Outlier Air will last 10 hours on a single On all three counts, these are improvements
attempt at true wireless earbuds. charge, while the charging case provides an over Sennheiser’s earbuds.
The ‘true’ part means that, as with Apple’s additional 20 hours. That means you can enjoy Best of all, the Outlier Air sound
AirPods or the Samsung Galaxy Buds (Shopper 30 hours of music away from the mains, with astonishingly good. With thanks in part to
376), there’s no neckband tethering the two occasional charging breaks – more than any the aptX codec, they produce a wide,
in-ear headphones together, let alone a cord other set of true wireless earbuds we’ve used. dynamic sound that’s every bit as lively and
that trails down to your phone or laptop. The charging case itself can’t be charged absorbing as the best earbuds on the market.
What makes them different to these other wirelessly, but its USB Type-C connector allows For the price, that’s an amazing feat.
true wireless earbuds is the price: at £75, it to be fully refuelled from empty in less than Their soundstage and imaging are
particularly commendable. Instrument
separation is handled with ease, and songs
They produce a wide, dynamic sound that’s every bit as sound gloriously wide and deep.
Frequency response is very agreeable, too.
lively and absorbing as the best earbuds on the market The sub-bass is sublime, with an ear-pounding
bass rumble in the sub-60Hz region. There’s a
bit of wobble between the 60Hz and 250Hz
they’re more affordable than most rivals, yet two hours. The only downside is that this case region, but it doesn’t ruin the effect, and
they don’t skimp on quality or features either. is a little bigger than most competitors’, there’s plenty of energy in the mid-range that
For one thing, the Outlier Air support the particularly Samsung’s compact design. helps the vocals in pop tracks sound punchy
aptX Bluetooth codec, something we’ve only The earbuds themselves are, design-wise, and alive. In contrast, many other wireless
previously seen on Sennheiser’s Momentum most reminiscent of Sennheiser’s Momentum earbuds push back the vocals and create a
True Wireless earbuds, which cost over three True Wireless earbuds. That means they’re not warmer sound signature.
times as much. If your source device supports particularly attractive, and sit somewhat Finally, the high tones extend with vigour,
it (most Android phones do), this means you’ll conspicuously in your ears. Their size also providing plenty of sparkle, and there’s less
get better audio quality than using either of means they’re not great for wearing while sibilance than with the Mobvoi TicPods Free or
the more common SBC or AAC codecs. cycling, as they’ll channel a lot of wind into the RHA True Connect. There is, however, a
Qualcomm’s aptX chip also guarantees your ear canals, creating unwanted noise. slight softening at the top end, whereas the
that, when watching videos, you’ll get perfect There’s a physical button embedded into Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless maintain
synchronisation between what you hear and the outside of each earbud, which you can use a fluid, untainted high-end extension.
what you see on your smartphone’s display, to control your media, answer calls or trigger
with no lip-sync issues. your smartphone’s virtual assistant. Generally, AIR TRADE
we prefer actual buttons to touch controls, but In the field of true wireless earbuds, the
READY STEADY these ones are rather stiff, which makes them Creative Outlier Air are up against competitors
The Outlier Air impressed us with the stability fiddly and uncomfortable to use. costing two, three or even four times the price.
of their wireless connection, too. When testing Yet they hold their own and, in some ways,
the RHA TrueConnect and Mobvoi TicPods FEAST FOR THE EARS even better those rivals, offering a perfectly
Free (Shopper 375), we experienced occasional Still, the Outlier Air are pleasant enough to stable wireless connection, incredible battery
dropouts, but there was none of that here. wear, with some thoughtful design touches: life and absolutely fantastic sound.
The left and right earbuds also stayed they’ll automatically turn off when you pop For £75,
£7 therefore, they’re astonishingly
good value.
va If you have £280 to splash out on
the Sennheiser
Sennh Momentum True Wireless,
those remain
rem the pinnacle of cable-free
audio quality.
qua But for everyone else, Creative’s
Outlier Air
A should be your first call.
Christopher Minasians
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIF
HEADPHONES SUBTYPE In-ear
HEADPH • PLUG TYPE None •
WEIGHT 10g •CABLE LENGTH N/A • WARRANTY Two
RTB • DETAILS uk.creative.com •
years RT
PART CO
CODE Outlier Air
44 JULY
JUL 2019 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | ISSUE 377
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IN-EAR SWIMMING HEADPHONES
JBL Endurance Dive

★★★★★
VERDICT
A comfortable pair of waterproof headphones
with a built-in MP3 player, but they’re let
down by fiddly controls
BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES HAVE made it One tap plays or pauses music, two taps skips more a limitation of physics than the fault
easier to listen to music while running, cycling, forward and three taps jumps back a track. of JBL’s – consumer Bluetooth devices
climbing, rowing or indeed performing During a call, on the other hand, it takes one typically have a maximum range of 10 metres,
practically any kind of exercise. Why should tap to answer or hang up and two to reject. so in all but the tiniest of pools you’d
swimming be any different? In practice, the Endurance Dive’s various eventually swim out of range.
Swimming headphones, which use built-in design quirks generally work well. The Sound quality, although not outstanding,
music players to overcome the technical TwistLock system is easy to use – you remained consistent whether underwater or
challenges of wireless streaming, are not as essentially place each earbud in your ears at out in the open air. Given that these earphones
uncommon as you might think. JBL has now an angle, then twist them downwards to are designed with swimmers rather than
joined in with the Endurance Dive, a pair of form the seal – and we didn’t have any issues audiophiles in mind, they deliver the audio
earphones it claims function just as well in the with them coming loose while swimming. quality that could feasibly be expected.
pool as they do on dry land. Water seepage was virtually non-existent, too. However, what lets the Endurance Dive
These sit at the upper end of JBL’s We also appreciated the PowerHook down is their fiddly and unresponsive controls.
Endurance range of in-ear sports headphones, system. The hook on each earpiece is designed Strangely, this issue flares up when using MP3
at least in terms of price, with only the £130 to attract magnetically to the main earbud playback in particular: when connected via
Endurance Peak true wireless earphones when you’re not wearing the headset, Bluetooth, it was easy enough to flick through
costing more. Still, they do fill a more specific
niche, and as such are waterproof to the IPX7
specification (meaning they can survive
immersion at depths of up to one metre for
The built-in MP3 player has 1GB of storage, enough to store
up to 30 minutes) while being designed with
underwater comfort in mind. Specifically, they
200 songs. When you’re not in the pool, they can also
use JBL’s TwistLock earbud design to ensure
they stay snugly in place with a vacuum seal,
connect to any compatible device via Bluetooth
if mainly through good ergonomics rather
than an actual locking mechanism. For the automatically powering off in the process. songs or adjust the volume using the control
best possible fit, three different tip set sizes It’s a neat design that should save you a button on the right bud, but when playing
are included. good chunk of battery life. stored MP3s, it was a struggle just to skip a
Speaking of which, you can expect eight track using the same method.
LOCAL LISTENING hours of music playback from these Tellingly, JBL advises you to lock the
Most interesting is the built-in MP3 player headphones, which is reasonable enough, Endurance Dive’s controls before getting into
with 1GB of storage, enough to store 200 although using the hands-free calling the pool, but even this proved to be a struggle.
songs on the headphones themselves. When functionality will drain the battery faster
you’re not in the pool, they can also connect than just listening to music. WATER SHAME
to any compatible device via Bluetooth, and a The Endurance Dive are a comfortable pair of
single touch button on the right earbud allows DRAG RACING sport earphones that offer better-than-average
you to control both music and phone calls. Getting music on to the integrated MP3 player sound quality. It’s a shame that they’re so
is easy: simply connect them to a PC using the difficult to control.
provided USB cable, and you can drag and We can’t help but think that these
drop songs directly on to the local 1GB headphones would be easier to use if they
storage. However, besides tapping to skip, used multiple responsive buttons, rather than
you have no control over the order in a single touch-sensitive button. Considering
which tracks are played; it isn’t possible that the Sony NW-WS413 and Finis Duo both
to create, say, a custom playlist. have these physical buttons, not to mention
There’s also no offline support for four times as much MP3 storage space and
Spotify or other streaming services, prices that are either equal to or lower than
which might be offputting to those the Endurance Dive’s, either of these would
who prefer such subscriptions to make for better swimming headphones.
having a fully paid-for library of Pete Clark
music. Using Bluetooth
connectivity (rather than local SPECIFICATIONS
storage) while you’re in the pool
might seem like a solution, but
HEADPHONES SUBTYPE In-ear • PLUG TYPE None •
when we tried this the connection
WEIGHT 272g •CABLE LENGTH N/A • WARRANTY
One year RTB • DETAILS www.jbl.co.uk •
proved too unreliable, and the music PART CODE JBLENDURDIVEBNL
repeatedly cut out. Of course, this is

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MIRRORLESS CAMERA
NIKON Z6
★★★★★
RECOMMENDED £2,540 • From www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
Nikon’s ‘mainstream’ mirrorless camera gets
just about everything right
NIKON’S DYNAMIC MIRRORLESS duo,

the Z6 and the Z7, were announced
simultaneously last year. The Z6 is the
cheaper, lower-resolution model, designed to
attract a wider range of potential users, while
also bringing a couple of advantages beyond
the lower price. The result is a superb, capable
camera that demonstrates just how serious
Nikon is about its new range – and which
might be the most appealing camera of the
past 12 months.
The Nikon Z6 houses a 24.5-megapixel,
full-frame sensor, making it just shy of half
the resolution of the 45.7-megapixel Z7.
The build and handling of both models is,
to the millimetre and gram, identical, with
the same tilting screen, high-resolution
electronic viewfinder and controls.
There are other key differences, however,
including a faster frame rate on the Z6 (12fps that are easy to hit, unlike what you see on handy for changing the autofocus point when
to the Z7’s 9fps), and a slightly different AF cameras such as the diminutive Sony A7 III. shooting through the viewfinder.
system that still leaves you with a very There’s a decent array of dials and buttons, The dual control wheel setup is
capable 273 points. most of which are within easy reach of your reminiscent of DSLRs, while there are direct
The biggest difference between Nikon’s right thumb. That leaves your left hand free to access buttons for ISO and drive mode.
two models is the price. You can pick up comfortably hold the lens. A useful display on Pressing the ‘I’ button gives you swift
the Z6 for a little over £2,500, or the Z7 top of the camera shows key settings such as access to all your personal favourite
for £3,699, both with the same 24-70mm aperture, drive mode, battery level and card settings, and the quick menu can be
f/4 lens. Neither is small change, but the space remaining. A joystick protrudes from customised via the main menu.
Z6 falls more squarely into the realm of the back of the camera and is extremely
enthusiast affordability. THE CARD YOU’RE DEALT
Both the Z6 and Z7 have the same fantastic
TAKING HOLD electronic viewfinder, which is made up of
The Z6 also demonstrates how Nikon has 3,690,000 dots and is extremely bright and
distilled the best features from cameras such clear. It’s accompanied by a tilting, 3.2in
as the D850 DSLR and made them available touchscreen. The variable-angle screen is
on a smaller, lighter body. That said, it’s still useful for shooting from low and high angles,
chunky and robust enough to be pleasant to but is slightly less useful than a fully
use, with a decent-sized grip and buttons articulating screen for shooting video or
portrait-format images.
Also identical to the Z7 is the single XQD
memory card slot. Professionals will have
plenty of gripes about the lack of twin
memory card slots for on-the-go backup, but
for enthusiasts, not being able to back up
your shots as you go is less disastrous than
it could be. However, the XQD format is still
relatively expensive and, although you’ll
soon be able to also use CF Express cards
when a firmware upgrade rolls out, it’s
something you may need to add to your
budget when picking up a Z6.
Auto-focusing is where the two cameras
diverge. The Z6 has a 273-point hybrid
autofocus system, which sounds like a lot,
until you consider the Z7’s 493 points. Still,
the Z6’s points cover almost the whole frame
and should satisfy most photographers.

LESS IS MORE
The lower-resolution sensor brings a couple of
benefits. First, it facilitates a faster frame rate
than the Z7, giving you a pro-level 12fps to
work with for moving subjects. Having fewer
pixels crammed on to the sensor should also
make the Z6 slightly better equipped for
low-light shooting, too, although judging
from our time with the Z7, the pricier
camera can hardly be improved upon.
If you already own Nikon lenses, you can
use them with the Z6 via its FTZ mount
adaptor. We’ve tried with a variety of different
lenses and it maintains full autofocus and
usability. Expect to pay around an additional
£270 for the adaptor or a little less if you get
one with your Z6 as a bundle.
The Z6 has the same level of weather-
sealing as the Nikon D850, which makes it
well equipped to face the perils of shooting
outdoors. It feels extremely well built and
more than up to the task of brutalising
outdoor shoots.
Although there are many advantages to
mirrorless cameras, battery life is an area
where they still struggle to compete with In fact, in low-light situations, the Z6 puts have another Nikon DSLR lens, you can use it
DSLRs. The Z6 has a fairly paltry official rating in a slightly better performance, so if you’re via an adaptor, which isn’t so bad.
of 310 shots. In real-world usage, you’ll somebody who does a lot of shooting in the As is now pretty much the norm, the Z6
probably get more, especially with careful dark, it’s certainly something to think about. shoots video in 4K. You can opt for 30fps,
power management, but it’s worth investing Focusing is swift and accurate, locking on 25fps and 24fps, or there’s up to 120fps slow
in a second battery if you tend to get to most subjects with ease. As light levels motion available if you switch to 1080p.
particularly snap-happy. The Z6 can be drop, the Z6 will hunt a little more, but it’s There’s also the option to attach an external
charged via USB, so carrying a power pack rare for it to miss altogether. Shooting moving recorder to output 10-bit 4K footage; do this
with you is another option. subjects revealed the Z6 to be pretty and you’ll be able to shoot N-LOG footage as
competent, keeping up with fairly easy-to- well, in the name of more flexible grading.
NIGHT OWL follow subjects moving predictably. It might Video shooters will be pleased to see both an
Unless you crave a super-high resolution, not be the top choice for sports external microphone and a headphone socket.
the Z6 arguably makes more sense than photographers, but for all-rounders who
the Z7, not least because image quality shoot the occasional action event, it should BUTTING ZEDS
remains superb in a wide range of different be more than enough. The Z6 is one of the standout releases of
shooting conditions. Having image stabilisation baked in is the past year. The Nikon Z7 is quite possibly
Dynamic range is excellent, while colours helpful for getting handheld sharp shots at the best camera on the market right now,
directly from the camera are natural but relatively slow shutter speeds; another bonus but the Z6 comes a very close second for
well saturated. Detail might not be on a par for low-light shooters. Using automatic white significantly less cash.
with the Z7, but it’s still very good: unless balance resulted in generally accurate colours, It’s a great all-round performer for
you’re pixel peeping at 100%, or have a while leaving the Z6 in all-purpose (matrix) advanced enthusiasts who shoot lots of
penchant for extreme crops, you’ll probably metering did a good job of producing different subjects, and would even make a
be hard-pushed to spot the difference at well-balanced exposures. good second camera for professionals
normal printing sizes. shooting with other Nikon models, including
MOUNT UP the Z7, or DSLRs such as the D850 or the D5.
For now, Nikon has a very limited set of There are a couple of drawbacks to
proprietary lenses for the Z mount. The consider, such as limited battery life and a
24-70mm f/4 is the obvious partner for the Z6 single XQD card slot, but overall, the Z6 is a
and produces lovely, very capable and extremely desirable camera.
sharp images; 50mm Amy Davies
and 35mm prime
lenses, both at f/1.8, SPECIFICATIONS
are also available.
Later this year
SENSOR RESOLUTION 24.5 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE
35.9x23.9mm CMOS •
FOCAL LENGTH MULTIPLIER 1x •
should see the VIEWFINDER Electronic (3,690,000 dots) • LCD SCREEN
14-30mm and a 3.2in (2,000,000 dots) • VIEWFINDER MAGNIFICATION
(35mm-EQUIVALENT, COVERAGE 0.80x, 100% •
50mm f/0.95 Noct
LENS MOUNT Nikon Z • WEIGHT 1,175g • DIMENSIONS
lens, but compared 134x101x68mm • WARRANTY One year RTB •
to Sony’s much DETAILS www.europe-nikon.com
more diverse
offering, the Z6 Battery life 310 shots
suffers for its 0% -50 Reference +50 +100
youthfulness. See page 106 for performance details
However, if you

FITNESS SMARTWATCH
GARMIN Vivomove HR
★★★★★
RECOMMENDED £149 • From www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
There’s no GPS, but the Garmin Vivomove
HR delivers a highly appealing mix of
affordability and features
FITNESS TRACKERS AREN’T to everyone’s

taste. They deliver neat insights into your
health and overall activity levels, but for many
people, even the best-looking tracker doesn’t
offer the appeal of a good old-fashioned
watch with real moving parts.
Garmin’s Vivomove HR is one of a growing
list of hybrid smartwatches that aims to fix
this by bringing fitness-tracking features to
something that more closely resembles a
traditional wristwatch. It’s a watch you can
wear wherever you go, with a pared-down
design that looks great whether you’re
wearing it in the gym or on an evening out.
Don’t be fooled by that low-key design,
however. The Vivomove HR packs in far
more than mere step and calorie counting.
It logs your heart rate and stress levels
throughout the day, and tracks your sleep
quality when you wear it at night. Thanks to
its built-in altimeter, it will also keep tabs on
how many stairs you climb.
LIGHT RELIEF
The hidden OLED screen also displays two grams lighter than the Fossil Sport or lift your wrist that its small 9.6x19.2mm
smartphone notifications and lets you (Shopper 376), which was already the lightest panel springs to life, and the watch’s hands
control music playback on your phone. smartwatch we’d tested in recent memory. move smoothly around to the 10 and two
There’s multi-sport tracking, too, allowing Thanks to this superlatively lightweight o’clock positions to avoid obscuring the
you to manually log walks, runs, weightlifting design, and the totally flush optical heart-rate interface. This is a really neat feature, and one
and cardio workouts. If you forget to start sensor on the underside, the Vivomove HR that you’re sure to want to show off.
logging, it can even detect what kind of is also among the most comfortable Although this display is one of the smaller
exercise you’re doing automatically, via smartwatches. If you want something you can touchscreens you’ll find on a smartwatch, it
Garmin’s Move IQ technology. keep on day and night, it fits the bill much works well for the most part. Like Garmin’s
Lastly, the Vivomove HR estimates your better than most of Garmin’s chunkier sports Vivosport tracker, you have to tap one side of
VO2 max and can also be used to broadcast watches. When using it to track our sleep, we the display to step back a screen, which can
your heart rate (via ANT+) to compatible never once woke with the urge to take it off. feel fiddly, but it’s responsive to taps and
devices during workouts. Although the watch That’s not all the Vivomove HR does well. swipes, and the interface is clear enough that
is waterproof to a depth of 50 metres, sadly It’s also a great-looking watch, at least to our you can quickly work out what you’re doing.
there’s no dedicated app for swim tracking, eyes. We were sent the black model and, That said, the Vivomove HR would benefit
and there’s no built-in GPS either. although it’s undoubtedly more from a single physical button, such as the one
Still, what we have here is a Swatch than Rolex as far as on the Garmin Vivoactive 3 (Shopper 362).
respectable feature set design ethos is concerned, Long-tapping and double-tapping the watch’s
for only £149. There’s that’s no bad thing. There screen to open the app list and start an
also a Premium variant, are no physical buttons activity feels a bit clunky, and having a
with a more formal to clutter up the look, button would surely make this quicker and
look and leather strap, just a minimalist black easier. It would also stop the screen from
but it’s a lot more watch face accompanied becoming smeared with fingerprints, which
expensive at £230. by two hands. can be a bit of a problem.
This cheaper ‘Sport’
version of the Vivomove HIDE AND PEEK DEEP DIVE
HR holds the advantage So pared down is the Still, you can get to most of what the
of being considerably Vivomove HR’s design Vivomove HR does with only a few swipes.
lighter than the Premium that, at first glance, it’s From the main screen, which shows the
version, tipping the scales not obvious it even has a time and date, swiping left brings up your
at 40.8g including its silicone digital display. It’s only when core metrics, including step count, stairs
strap and 26g without it. That’s you firmly double-tap the screen climbed, intensity minutes, calories burned,

heart rate and stress. Among these, there
are also screens for music control,
weather and notifications.
Tapping any of these displays
typically reveals a deeper layer of
information. In most cases, this
means the watch shows you your
stats for the previous day, but
with the weather app, for
example, it lets you check the
CUSTOM BUILD
forecast for the next few days.
To activate functions such as
logging an activity manually, enabling
GAMING PCs
Do Not Disturb mode, checking your
VO2 max or using Find My Phone, you
need to long-press the display. The
Free UK Shipping
Vivomove HR lets you record walks, runs,
cardio and weights sessions manually, but
3 Year Limited Warranty
again it’s disappointing that there’s no GPS,
nor apps for swim tracking or cycling.
Finance Options Available
The latter two are at least recognised by
Garmin’s Move IQ auto-detection feature, but the
benefit to logging activities manually is that there
are many more details to pore over when the down further into any particular area simply by
watch syncs to the Garmin Connect mobile app. tapping. From its sidebar, Garmin Connect also
After a run, for example, the app delivers organises your personal data by category,
estimates on distance, pace and calories burned, including activities, health stats, performance
as well as displaying a chart for your heart rate stats and more.
during the workout. The distance and pace One perk of the Vivomove HR’s tiny display, at
numbers logged by the Vivomove HR were a least in theory, is that it should last much longer
little over what they should have been, but if than smartwatches with larger OLED screens.
you’re running on a treadmill you can easily edit However, although Garmin’s estimate of five days
it to match the real figures. On some watches, in smart mode is considerably more than you’ll
this edited information would be used to get with an Apple Watch Series 4 (Shopper 371),
recalibrate future estimates, but it’s unclear if it’s still some way behind its immediate rivals.
the Vivomove HR works in this way. For example, we got well over a week out of
Heart-rate accuracy is mixed. On a treadmill the Withings Steel HR Sport (Shopper 371), and it
run, the numbers were mostly spot on, but on a can go even longer with lighter use. Garmin’s own
crosstrainer, the Vivomove HR only started Vivoactive 3 can also last seven days between
logging realistic heart-rate data after the first five charges. However, as you’d hope for a watch with
minutes of exercise. At four minutes in, for analogue hands, the Vivomove HR also has a
instance, it was showing a pulse of only 80bpm. low-energy mode that it reverts to when the juice
is running low. In this mode, which extends
RINGING TRUE battery life for up to two weeks, the hands
We suspect the lack of GPS might be a deliberate continue to display the time but both the OLED
decision on Garmin’s part to keep its lifestyle screen and tracking features are disabled.
products and more serious sports wearables
separate. At least Garmin’s TrueUp continuity GET A MOVE ON
feature allows you to switch seamlessly from the Slightly underwhelming battery life isn’t reason
Vivomove HR to a more fitness-focused wearable. enough to dismiss the Garmin Vivomove HR,
Indeed, providing your other device supports however. If you’re looking for a hybrid
TrueUp, it will sync information such as steps, smartwatch that logs your steps, sleep, heart
calories burned, intensity minutes and floors rate and stress in a package that both looks
climbed between the devices. That’s perfect if great and is fairly priced, it’s an obvious choice.
you have, say, a Fenix 5 Plus, but want to wear Thanks to Garmin’s TrueUp feature, it’s an
something less chunky (such as the Vivomove even easier decision to make if you own another
HR) when you’re not seriously exercising: all of Garmin device for running or cycling and want
your metrics will be a swipe away on both devices. something more lightweight and comfortable
With limited screen space to display stats on for everyday wear. The flip side to that is that
the watch itself, however, you’re still better off if you need just one watch that does it all, the
looking at insights into your health and activity Withings Steel HR Sport holds the advantage.
on the Garmin Connect smartphone app. On its Edward Munn
homescreen, it has a well-presented summary of WWW.CYBERPOWERSYSTEM.CO.UK
WWW.
WWW.CY
W.CYBE
CYBERP
BERPOW
RPOWER
OWERSY
ERSYSTEM
SY EM.CO.UK
all your data for the day, including heart rate, SPECIFICATIONS
steps, floors climbed, stress and sleep. Swipe
further up and it also displays your health stats
PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes • DISPLAY Follow Us!
and workouts for the last week. •
SIZE 0.9in RESOLUTION 128x64 • OS SUPPORT Android, iOS
If even this comprehensive selection of
• BATTERY LIFE Five days • WARRANTY One year RTB •
DETAILS www.garmin.com • PART CODE 010-01850-06
data leaves you wanting more, you can drill @CYBERPOWERUK
ISSUE 377 | COMPUTER SHOPPER | JULY 2019 @CYBERPOWER_UK 51

FITNESS TRACKER
FITBIT Inspire HR
★★★★★
BEST BUY £90 • From www.amazon.co.uk
VERDICT
The Inspire HR’s simplicity, stylishness and superb app
make it a great fitness tracker for more casual users
FITBIT ISN’T THE fitness band dominator it Fitbit design. At this point,
once was, but devices such as the Inspire HR it’s pretty clear that unless
show why the firm was so successful in the Fitbit has a designer on the
first place. It’s a well-balanced blend for payroll who just really loves
people who want to get fitter, but don’t want designing chargers, the only
to spend hours analysing their form. reason for this is the huge
The design will be pretty familiar to markups it can make from
anybody who has used a Fitbit band from selling replacements.
the past few years. A small plastic lozenge Still, the Inspire HR does
is the brain of the device, and it clips in nail the rest of the basics,
between two silicone rubber straps. Rather step-counting in particular.
neatly, two bands come in the box, so you You can set your desired step
don’t have to figure out whether you qualify target in the app (the default is
as having large wrists or not. You can also 10,000, or around five miles for
buy separate straps, ranging from £20 to £60, most people), and the little OLED
to make the Inspire HR look as smart or as screen dutifully keeps track, occasionally
sporty as you like, depending on whether buzzing to tell you to get up for a walk if
you want rubber, leather or steel. you’ve been static for too long. accessible to people who may find
As for the brain part, it may look a little The sleep tracking has come on quite a a full Garmin-style stat-fest daunting, it also
cheaper than the old Fitbit Alta (Shopper long way since the early days, and the app has a huge userbase, meaning you’ll likely find
plenty of friends and family to compete with.
Nobody comes close to matching Fitbit’s
It’s a well-balanced blend for people who want to get sense of friendly competition, and it’s a world
away from the overwhelming sense of elite
fitter, but don’t want to spend hours analysing their form athleticism that other apps try to instil.
However, this simplicity cuts both ways.
Frankly, we found the Inspire HR too small and
343) – its predecessor was constructed from now claims to be able to tell the difference fiddly to use as a running watch; the teeny
aluminium, whereas this is plastic – but between light, deep and REM sleep. This is display means only one stat can appear
there’s not much in it. Indeed, we quite like difficult to prove from our end, what with onscreen at a time and swiping while running
the curvy elegance of the Inspire HR, and the having to be asleep for testing, but is distinctly awkward. You can use connected
display looks a little sharper, too. anecdotally the charts seem to match up GPS (allowing the band to use the GPS on
from what we remember – spikes during your phone), but it’s not built in, so you’d
HOT STEPPER unexpected 3am wake-ups and the like. have to carry your phone out on runs.
The Inspire HR is mainly controlled via its Not that it’s incapable of recording your
touchscreen, which is rarely a great idea for a AIR TIME performance, which is fundamentally what
fitness tracker, given that sensitivity drops The other features are equally well thought a fitness tracker should do; it’s just less
when they come into contact with out. The guided breathing app, for capable than others at letting you assess
moisture – something that example, has you focus on a circle that data on the fly.
makes a touchscreen that grows and shrinks for two
difficult to use when or five minutes to help you GOT HEART
running in rain, or simply pace your breathing while the For £90, however, the Inspire HR doesn’t
with sweaty fingers. It’s Fitbit monitors your heart necessarily have to compete with the best
even harder when the rate. It will even give you an high-end fitness trackers and hybrid
screen is so tiny, although estimate of VO2 Max to smartwatches. What it actually does, it
to Fitbit’s credit, this one help you judge your overall generally does very well, so if all you’re after
works well; even better fitness level and, more is a smart fitness band to track your steps,
than the Charge 3, in fact. importantly, track your sleep and general fitness level, the Fitbit
There’s a single button on improvement over time. Inspire HR is easy to recommend.
the left-hand side, but this In true Fitbit style, this Alan Martin
mainly functions as a information is presented in
back button, or as a way a very user-friendly way, SPECIFICATIONS
of lighting up the screen giving you a rating rather
if it doesn’t detect the fact than a raw set of numbers to
PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes •
DISPLAY SIZE 0.7in •
RESOLUTION 128x72 • OS
that you’ve raised your wrist. decode. And this is, of course, SUPPORT Android, iOS • •
BATTERY LIFE Five days
Less useful is the charger, where Fitbit really shines: the WARRANTY One year RTB •
DETAILS www.fitbit.com •
PART CODE FB505RGPK-EU
which is yet another proprietary app is not just user-friendly and

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VIDEO-EDITING SOFTWARE
ADOBE Premiere
Pro CC 2019
★★★★★
£20 per month •
From www.adobe.com
VERDICT
Integration with Rush, data-driven graphics
and deeper Lumetri Color controls combine
to make this a decent upgrade
⬆ You can start your video project on your smartphone using Adobe Rush, then add finesse in Premiere Pro
WE ALL KNOW that non-professional video because it fits better with conventional colour grading, which has become increasingly
production is shifting from camcorders to storytelling techniques than VR360. important in video production.
smartphones, but it’s even happening in the Files in over-under, side-by-side and More Lumetri-powered tools are being
professional space. monoscopic formats can be imported, and you embedded directly within Premiere Pro CC
The 2018 Turner Prize winner, a half-hour can tell Premiere Pro to reinterpret footage if 2019, perhaps in response to the popularity of
single-screen video shot on a phone, is a settings aren’t detected automatically or Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve. Using the Lumetri
perfect example. In recognition of this trend, correctly. You can then export in side-by-side Color Curves panels, you can select colours in
Adobe launched a special cut-down version of or over-under VR, with support for the frame and grade them individually.
Premiere Pro in October 2018 called Premiere monoscopic or stereoscopic output. This It’s also possible to add multiple Lumetri
Rush. Initially, this arrived on iOS, but the conforms to Google VR180, but annoyingly, colour effects layered on top of each other,
desktop version soon followed. there’s no specific encoding preset for this. toggle them on and off, and edit them
Why mention it now? Well, while Rush has separately. There’s also a setting for toggling
specialised tools for creating video that’s been DATA MINING Display Colour Management, but this requires
shot on smartphones, or destined to be Adobe is keeping its eye on other trends, too. GPU acceleration. However, if you have a
viewed on smartphones, your edited files are In particular, there are exciting new tools for professional-grade monitor with a calibrated
stored in the cloud via your Adobe account. anyone who needs to present data via video. Rec. 709, P3 or Rec. 2020 colour space,
That’s fine if all you want to do is edit in You still need to create graphics templates in Premiere Pro will display your video correctly.
vertical and square aspect ratios, add titles and After Effects or download them from Adobe Powerful audio tools are available if you
voiceovers, then publish directly to YouTube, Stock, but once imported there are plenty of export your sound into Audition, but Adobe
Facebook or Instagram, but to take your work fine-tuning options available. Many of the has now added a subset into the Premiere Pro
further you need Premiere Pro CC 2019. design parameters of the underlying vector Essential Sound panel. There are sliders for
graphic can be edited via the Essential Graphics intelligently reducing reverb and noise. These
CLEVER BY HALF or Video Effects panels, although you can’t tools are nowhere near as capable as those
Whereas the desktop Rush saves changes keyframe these so they change over time. available in Audition, but they’re great for
back to the cloud, Premiere Pro CC 2019 Best of all, with data-driven templates, you those who don’t have the dedicated app.
saves changes locally, and with that capability can link to a spreadsheet in CSV or TSV
comes more sophisticated effects that aren’t format, then map the columns and rows to BRIGHTER FUTURE
compatible with Rush. parameters in the infographic. If you change As always, a new version of Adobe Premiere
What’s clever, however, is that you can the values in the underlying file, the Premiere Pro CC brings with it support for new file
start your project in Rush – and push it a long Pro CC 2019 graphic will update dynamically. formats. Now you can import and export ARRI
way down the path, including publishing a The downside is that, in practice, we found Alexa LF, import Sony Venice X-OCN V2 and,
version straight to the web – and then add this buggy, with tab-separated spreadsheets on macOS 10.13.4 or later, edit the High
finesse via Premiere Pro. not imported correctly – just comma- Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) of Apple’s
Another future-facing format that separated ones – and the controls didn’t iPhone 8 and iPhone X. There are performance
Premiere Pro CC 2019 can now handle is always appear in the Essential Graphics panel and stability improvements for RED digital
VR180, which (as its name suggests) is for editing. Hopefully this will improve in time. cinema camera media as well.
basically half of the full 360° spherical field Many other enhancements for Premiere While there’s no single killer feature in this
of view. Interest is growing in this format Pro CC 2019 revolve around the concept of release, Adobe has included enough to make
this a welcome update. Rush integration is
useful, and while the data-driven graphics
capabilities are still heavily tied to After Effects
for original design, the expanded Lumetri
Color capabilities might make you think twice
about switching to DaVinci Resolve.
James Morris
SPECIFICATIONS
OS SUPPORT Windows 10 version 1703 or later; macOS
•
10.12 or later (10.13 required for hardware acceleration)
MINIMUM CPU Intel 6th-gen or later (or AMD equivalents) •
MINIMUM GPU Integrated graphics • MINIMUM RAM 8GB
• HARD DISK SPACE 8GB • DETAILS www.adobe.com •
PRODUCT CODE Premiere Pro CC
⬆ Adobe has added a set of powerful audio tools into the Premiere Pro Essential Sound panel

Choosing a... PC system
01 A basic PC costing around £350 will
be able to run everyday office,
multimedia and education software and will
03 All modern PCs come with at least
a dual-core processor and are
capable of most tasks. Anyone who
peripherals attach to these ports. Most new
PCs come with USB3 or the latest USB3.1
ports, which provide faster data transfers
easily cope with surfing the internet. It might regularly undertakes demanding tasks when used with supported devices than the
even be able to run some modern games. such as video editing and encoding older USB2 standard.
Many PCs can be sold either with or should consider a hexa-core or even
without a monitor. If you don’t like the
display the manufacturer is offering, you
an octa-core processor.
06 Most new PCs now come with
Windows 10 pre-installed. Don’t be
can always use your current one, or buy
another one separately. 04 There are plenty of good reasons to
upgrade the PC’s memory or hard
disk. If you’ll use your PC for gaming, video
too easily swayed by the inclusion of other
software, though, as it may be that you’ll
never use it.
02 If you want to play games, you’ll

have to upgrade the graphics card.
Budget cards such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX
editing or other demanding tasks, you’ll
need at least 8GB of RAM and a large hard
disk; 1TB should suffice. Many new PCs have 07 While most PCs come in cases of
a similar size, some have more
1050 will cope well with many 3D games, but an SSD, which speeds up the time it takes for compact mini tower or mini PC cases.
to play the latest 3D games smoothly (and your PC to boot and for programs to load. These smaller PCs will fit under your TV
enjoy the best-quality graphics) it’s worth or on your desk more easily, but bear in
upgrading to a more powerful card such as
the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070. 05 Having plenty of USB ports is
always useful, as most computer
mind that they’re significantly harder to
upgrade than full-size machines.
PCs
RASPBERRY Y PI LENOVO IdeaCentre 620S
LE
3 Model B+ ★★★★★
★★
★★★★★ £579
£57 • wwww.currys.co.uk
£28 • uk.rs-online.com
m
Mini PCs can be overpriced, slow
ow
The ultimate or even sold without RAM and
micro
ro PC gets storage, but the IdeaCentre 620S
0S
even better is a complete system that’s both reasonably
with faster CPU clock speeds and dramatically improved powerful
pow and pleasantly affordable. The quad-core
core
Wi-Fi performance. The diff
differences between
b this
th and the
th Intel
el Core i5-7400T handles office work well
standard Pi Model 3 probably won’t be enough to be worth enough, while an Intel Optane Memory drive gives
ves
a direct upgrade, but since this is no more expensive, it’s the the hard disk a speed boost, and there’s even a
best choice for new projects. GeForce GTX 1050 Ti for extra graphical capability.
ty.
PROCESSOR Quad-core 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-7400T • RAM 8GB • FRONT USB PORTS None •
PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.4GHz Broadcom BCM2837 • RAM 1GB • USB PORTS 1x Micro USB REAR USB PORTS 4x USB3 • TOTAL STORAGE 1TB hard disk, 16GB Intel Optane Memory drive •
(power), 4x USB2 • TOTAL STORAGE MicroSD card slot • DISPLAY None • OPERATING GRAPHICS CARD 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti • DISPLAY None • OPERATING SYSTEM
SYSTEM Raspbian • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.raspberypi.org • PART CODE Pi 3 Windows 10 Home • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.lenovo.com • PART CODE
Model B+ • FULL REVIEW Jun 2018 90HC0011UK • FULL REVIEW May 2018
MSI Trident 3 Arctic PALICOMP AMD Abyss

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£1,390 • www.chillblast.com £700 • www.palicomp.co.uk
This white-and-silver version of the Trident 3 crams At this price, you’d
Intel Core i7 power into a PC no larger than a games seriously struggle to find
console. Unlike a games console, however, you can a more comprehensively
open this up to customise the components, not that the SSD and capable desktop system than Palicomp’s
hard disk duo will need imminent upgrading. At this price it’s AMD Abyss. It can multitask with
expensive for a GTX serious applications just as well as it
1060 system, but can run games, and with its large, fast
compared to most NVMe SSD, it won’t be slowed down
compact PCs it’s a by storage. There’s a lot of room for
real powerhouse. future upgrades, too.
PROCESSOR Hexa-core 3.2GHz Intel Core i7-8700 • RAM 16GB • FRONT USB PORTS 2x USB3.1, PROCESSOR Hexa-core 3.6GHz AMD Ryzen 5 2600X • RAM 8GB • FRONT USB PORTS 2x USB2,
1x USB Type-C • REAR USB PORTS 4x USB2, 1x USB3.1, 1x USB Type-C • TOTAL STORAGE 128GB 1x USB3 • REAR USB PORTS 2x USB2, 2x USB3, 2x USB3.1, 1x USB Type-C • TOTAL STORAGE
SSD, 1TB hard disk • GRAPHICS CARD 6GB MSI GeForce GTX 1060 Aero ITX • 512GB SSD, 1TB hard disk • GRAPHICS CARD 8GB AMD Radeon RX570 Armor 8GB OC •
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10 Home • WARRANTY Two years RTB • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10 Home • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS
DETAILS www.msi.com • PART CODE 9S6-B92012-061 • FULL REVIEW Feb 2019 www.palicomp.co.uk • PART CODE RYZ6 • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019

Choosing a... Laptop
01 A basic laptop costing around £300
will run everyday office, multimedia
and education software, but it won’t be
portability, buy one that has a 13.3in or 14in
screen. In general, the smaller and lighter the
laptop, the more expensive it is, especially if
want better performance, you should
look for an Intel Core i5 or Core i7
model instead. We recommend a
suitable for 3D gaming or processor-intensive it has plenty of processing power. minimum of 4GB of RAM, although 8GB
tasks such as video editing. Many laptops at is better for multitasking.
this price have a 15.6in screen and weigh over
2kg, so they’re best used around the house
and for occasional journeys.
04 Battery life is extremely important
for a laptop, particularly if you’ll be
carrying it around. We’d expect all but the 06 Most budget and mid-range laptops
use a mechanical hard disk for
biggest and heaviest to last for at least storage. You’ll want at least 500GB, but
02 If you want to play modern games,

you’ll need a laptop with a dedicated
graphics chip such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX
five hours on a single charge, but for an
ultraportable that you carry everywhere,
eight hours and above is more desirable.
1TB or more is better. Solid-state drives
(SSDs) have faster performance, making
your computer quicker to boot and more
1060M. Good gaming laptops tend to have responsive. They have lower capacities,
large 15.6 or 17in screens and weigh around
3kg, so they’re best suited to use at home. 05 Laptops use mobile versions of
processors to conserve power,
though. You’ll need at least 128GB.
03 If you want a laptop that you can

take everywhere, look for a model
and these lag behind desktop chips
when it comes to performance. For a
budget Windows laptop, an Intel Core i3
07 Convertibles and 2-in-1 laptops can
change from laptop mode to tablet
mode. We’ve listed our favourite models later
that weighs less than 2kg. For the best processor will do the job, but if you on in this guide in the Tablets section.
LAPTOPS
APPLE MacBook Pro 13in (2018) ACER Aspire 5
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£3,599 • www.apple.com/uk £690 • www.amzn.to/2MS5lqc
2MS5lqc
Just like its The Aspire

pire 5 is the
bigger 15in epitomee of the
brother, sensible mid-range
the latest MacBook Pro laptop. It’s not ultra-stylish
ish
is as expensive as it is and it doesn’t have a
powerful, but powerful professional-quality
it most certainly is. This is an incredibly potent laptop, with an display, but for the
excellent display and blazingly fast storage, all within a thin and price it offers reliable performance
rformance in a
attractive chassis. variety of workloads, and it will last a full day on battery power
without much trouble.
PROCESSOR Quad-core 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-8559U • RAM 16GB • DIMENSIONS 304x212x14.9mm
• WEIGHT 1.37kg • SCREEN SIZE 13.3in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,560x1,440 • GRAPHICS PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8250U • RAM 8GB • DIMENSIONS 382x263x21mm •
ADAPTOR Intel Iris Plus 655 • TOTAL STORAGE 2TB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM macOS • WEIGHT 2.2kg • SCREEN SIZE 15.6in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 • TOTAL STORAGE
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.apple.com/uk • PART CODE MacBook Pro 13in • 256GB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10 Home • WARRANTY One year RTB •
FULL REVIEW Dec 2018 DETAILS www.acer.com • PART CODE A515-51-50YS • FULL REVIEW Oct 2018
HUAWEI MateBook 14 NEW DELL XPS 15 2-in-1

ENTRY
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£1,500 • consumer.huawei.com
m £1,599 • www.amzn.to/2AV36P7
36P7
The MateBookook 14 This is everything

ything
is the biggest and that’s great about
best of Huawei’s
ei’s the XPS serieses –
2019 ultraportables. Like the more the massive power, the lengthy thy
expensive MateBook X Pro, it battery life, the sleek design – given
can be equipped with a even more flexibility with a fully
ully
Core i7 processor, but an rotatable hinge and touchscreen.
reen.
airier chassis means that That’s not the only improvement, either: this is the first XPS laptop
performance isn’t compromised to prevent heat build-up. Other with Dell’s ‘maglev’ keyboard design, which gives the keys a lovely
highlights include long battery life and Nvidia’s updated MX250 GPU. pseudo-mechanical feel.
PROCESSOR Quad-core 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8565U • RAM 16GB • DIMENSIONS 308x224x15.9mm PROCESSOR Quad-core 2.8GHz Intel Core i5-8305G • RAM 8GB • DIMENSIONS 354x235x16mm •
• WEIGHT 1.5kg • SCREEN SIZE 14in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,160x1,440 • GRAPHICS ADAPTOR WEIGHT 2kg • SCREEN SIZE 15.6in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 • GRAPHICS ADAPTOR
Nvidia GeForce MX250 • TOTAL STORAGE 512GB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10 Home • Radeon RX Vega M GL Graphics • TOTAL STORAGE 256GB SSD • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows
PARTS AND LABOUR WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS consumer.huawei.com • PART CODE 10 Home • PARTS AND LABOUR WARRANTY One year onsite • DETAILS www.dell.com/uk •
KLV-W29 • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019 PART CODE XPS 15 9575 • FULL REVIEW Oct 2018

Choosing an... Internal hard disk
01 A basic 1TB internal hard disk should
cost around £40. This will be fast
enough for general use and will provide
to provide less capacity than mechanical
hard disks, they’re significantly faster. More
expensive SSDs use the NVMe standard,
duplicate your data for better protection.
RAID arrays require hard disks of the same
size. In theory, they can be from different
enough storage for most users. which is even faster than SATA3, but require manufacturers, but it’s better to buy identical
Make sure the hard disk you choose has an M.2 slot on the motherboard. disks if you can.
the appropriate interface type for your PC.
Most hard disks and solid-state drives
(SSDs) use the SATA3 interface, which
enables faster speeds than the older SATA2.
03 Buy a hard disk that provides more
capacity than you think you need, as
your storage requirements are likely to grow.
05 A hard disk’s spindle speed
determines how quickly it can
transfer data. A spindle speed of 7,200rpm
Pretty much every motherboard released in A 2TB disk strikes the best balance between is common in desktop drives and is fast
recent years will have multiple SATA3 ports, capacity and low cost per gigabyte. enough for most purposes. Desktop hard
allowing you to connect several storage disks with 5,400rpm spindle speeds are
drives at once.
04 If you want more disk space or you
want to protect your data against
quite slow but use less power and generate
less heat and noise.
02 SSDs can make the most of SATA3’s

high bandwidth for fast file transfers.
They use flash memory similar to that found
disk failure, think about buying several hard
disks to create a RAID array. These use
multiple hard disks to create one large
To strike the best balance between
speed and storage capacity, use an SSD as
your system disk and store your files on a
in USB flash drives, and although they tend logical disk with better performance, or to larger mechanical disk.
STORAGE
SYNOLOGY DiskStation DS418j INTEL Optane Memory 32GB
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£281 • www.broadbandbuyer.com £55 • www.scan.co.uk
When a tiny two-bay NAS An interesting twist
won’t cut it, the fast, on M.2 SSDs,
high-capacity DiskStation DS418j Optane Memory isn’t
sn’t
is an excellent upgrade, especially as it can automatically convert old so much a dedicated storage drive as a
hard disks to be compatible with this NAS’s hardware and features. large cache for your existing hard disk,
isk
accelerating its read speeds to NVMe levels at a much lower price.
3.5in HARD DISK BAYS (FREE) 4 (4) • NETWORKING 1x 10/100/1,000 Ethernet • DLNA MEDIA
SERVER Yes • PRINT SERVER Yes • DIMENSIONS 184x168x230mm • WEIGHT 2.21kg •
WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.synology.com • PART CODE DS418j • CAPACITY 32GB • PRICE PER GIGABYTE £1.72 • INTERFACE M.2/NVMe • WARRANTY Five years
FULL REVIEW Jan 2018 RTB • DETAILS www.intel.com • PART CODE MEMPEK1W032GAXT • FULL REVIEW Sep 2017
ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB WD Red 6TB

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£154 • www.cclonline.com £170 • www.amzn.to/2nEZIAQ
The Adata XPG This is pricier than most 6TB
SX8200 Pro hard disks, even those created
is outrageously specifically for NAS drives, but the
good value for the performance it delivers. It’s as fast as or faster WD Red’s performance makes it a worthwhile investment. Despite its
than top-tier SSDs from Samsung and WD, but costs far less 5,400rpm spin speed it manages to outperform 7,200rpm drives such
across all its capacity options. as the Toshiba N300 in read/write tests.
CAPACITY 6TB • COST PER GIGABYTE £0.03p • INTERFACE SATA3 • CLAIMED READ 175MB/s •
CAPACITY 1TB • COST PER GIGABYTE £0.15p • INTERFACE M.2/NVMe • WARRANTY Five years CLAIMED WRITE 175MB/s • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.wdc.com •
RTB • DETAILS www.xpg.com • PART CODE ASX8200PNP-1TT • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019 PART CODE WD60EFRX • FULL REVIEW Nov 2017
SAMSUNG Portable SSD X5 1TB SAMSUNG 970 Evo Plus 500GB

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£423 • www.amzn.to/2DNc17x £108 • www.amzn.to/2CrstZB
For when you A significant
absolutely need to write speed
shift files as quicklyy upgrade helps make the 970 Evo Plus a superlatively
as possible, there’s the X5. Its use of speedy M.2 SSD, and at prices much lower than the original 970 Evo’s
the Thunderbolt 3 interface makes it equivalent capacities.
the fastest external SSD ever.
CAPACITY 1TB • COST PER GIGABYTE £0.42p • INTERFACE Thunderbolt 3 • CAPACITY 500GB • COST PER GIGABYTE £0.22p • INTERFACE M.2/NVMe • CLAIMED READ
WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.samsung.com/uk • 3,500MB/s • CLAIMED WRITE 3,300MB/s • WARRANTY Five years RTB • DETAILS
PART CODE MU-PB1T0B/WW • FULL REVIEW Dec 2018 www.samsung.com/uk • PART CODE MZ-V7S500BW • FULL REVIEW May 2019

Choosing a... Graphics card
01 You don’t have to spend much to buy
a decent graphics card that can drive
multiple monitors. The AMD Radeon RX 550
03 Check that your chosen card has
the graphics outputs you need.
Only low-end cards now have VGA
on a tight budget, get a card with 4GB of
RAM, as this should allow you to select the
highest-quality textures in games.
costs about £100, for example, and while it outputs, but many come with a DVI-to-VGA
isn’t suited to playing the latest games in Full
HD, it is perfect for watching videos,
browsing the web and playing basic games.
adaptor. Depending on your monitor, you
may also want an HDMI output or even
DisplayPort connection.
05 A card’s size, noise output and
power requirements are the final
considerations. Make sure your PC’s case
Bear in mind that AMD’s Eyefinity has enough room to accommodate your
02 You’ll need to spend more money if

you want to play the latest games.
A good mid-range gaming graphics card is
triple-monitor gaming mode requires at
least one DisplayPort monitor, which
means your AMD graphics card must have
chosen card. Double-slot cards with large
fans tend to be quieter than single-slot
cards with small fans but will block other
the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, which is at least one DisplayPort output. Nvidia’s expansion slots on your motherboard.
powerful enough to play all modern games Surround three-monitor mode needs only Also check that your power supply
at Full HD resolution. DVI and HDMI ports. can provide the power the card needs
High-powered cards tend to be more and that it has the right connectors.
expensive, so expect to pay over £400 if
you want to play games in Ultra HD at the
highest quality settings.
04 The amount of memory a card has
is important if you want games to look
their best at high resolutions. Unless you’re
Many cards require a six-pin PCI Express
power connector, and some also need an
additional eight-pin connector.
COMPONENTS
INTEL Core i9-9900K MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Armor 8G
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£470 • www.amzn.to/2KYuQtF £450 • www.ebuyer.com
Intel’s 9th-gen chips see it Whereas the RTX 2080
finally joining the octa-core and RTX 2080 Ti charge
club, including the flagship exorbitant amounts for their fancy ray-tracing and
Core i9-9900K. With Turbo Boost speeds hitting 5GHz anti-aliasing tech, the RTX 2070 delivers the same features at a much
straight out of the box, it’s just as potent in single-core gaming as it more reasonable price. It can also handle 4K gaming without much
is in serious multithreaded workloads. fuss, and MSI’s version stays very cool under load.
SOCKET LGA1151 • CORES 8 • FREQUENCY 3.6GHz • INTEGRATED GRAPHICS Intel UHD Graphics GPU Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 • MEMORY 8GB GDDR6 • GRAPHICS CARD LENGTH 155mm •
630 • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.intel.com • PART CODE BX80684I99900K • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.msi.com • PART CODE RTX 2070 Armor 8G •
FULL REVIEW Jan 2019 FULL REVIEW Mar 2019
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X THERMALTAKE View 37

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£281 • www.amzn.to/2JvaEyCk £108 • www.ebuyer.com
AMD’s second generation of A spacious, feature-rich chassis
Ryzen processors gets off to for both ATX- and EATX-based
an auspicious start with the builds, the View 37 comes with a
mighty Ryzen 7 2700X. It’s faster than Intel’s gull-wing side window that’s perfect for showing
equivalent Core i7-8700K at stock speeds, despite being cheaper, off your handiwork.
and temperatures stay low even when overclocking.
CASE TYPE Mid-tower • MOTHERBOARD TYPE ATX, EATX, microATX, Mini-ITX • SUPPLIED
SOCKET AM4 • CORES 8 • FREQUENCY 3.7GHz • INTEGRATED GRAPHICS None • FANS 2x 140mm • MAX DRIVE BAYS 7x 3.5in, 11x 2.5in • DIMENSIONS 525x261x538mm •
WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com • PART CODE YD270XBGAFBOX • WEIGHT 11.8kg • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.thermaltake.com •
FULL REVIEW Aug 2018 PART CODE CA-1J7-00M1WN-00 • FULL REVIEW Dec 2018
HYPERX Alloy Elite MSI MPG Z390 Gaming

g Edge
g AC
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£96 • www.currys.co.uk £140 • www.scan.co.uk
This is a brilliant do-it-all gaming From built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi
keyboard; the agile Cherry MX Red and Bluetooth to high-end audio
udio
key switches provide a strong foundation, connectivity, the MPG Z370 Gaming Edge
upon which HyperX has built a comfortable, detachable AC is stuffed with features. Add in a good price, easy overclocking and
wrist rest, dedicated media keys and customisable red backlighting. a well-designed BIOS, and it’s perfect for premium Intel-based builds.
The USB pass-through port is handy, too.
PROCESSOR SOCKET LGA1151 • DIMENSIONS 305x244mm • CHIPSET Intel Z390 • MEMORY
KEYBOARD SHAPE Full size • NUMBER PAD Yes • CONNECTION 2x USB2 • MEDIA KEYS Pause/ SLOTS 4 • PCI-E x16 SLOTS 3 • PCI-E x1 SLOTS 3 • PCI SLOTS 0 • USB PORTS 2x USB2, 2x USB3,
play, mute, skip, volume • USB PORTS 1x USB2 • WARRANTY Two years repair and replace • 1x USB3.1, 1x USB Type-C • VIDEO OUTPUTS 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort • WARRANTY One year RTB
DETAILS www.hyperxgaming.com • PART CODE HX-KB2RD1-UK/R1 • FULL REVIEW Mar 2018 • DETAILS www.msi.com • PART CODE MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019

Choosing a... Custom PC spec
01 Building your own PC is often cheaper
than buying a pre-made system, and
gives full control over the components. You
additional components you’ll want to install.
For systems with a lot of expansion cards
(such as graphics cards, sound cards or Wi-Fi
06 Every PC requires RAM and a PSU.
Performance doesn’t vary much
between specific models, but generally you
don’t need any special computer knowledge: cards), it’s best to go with ATX motherboards should aim for 8GB of RAM for a basic build
just a few spare hours, a screwdriver and and larger. For simpler builds, microATX or and 16GB for higher-end systems, and at least
your choice of parts. Even things such as Mini-ITX boards could well provide all the a 550W, Bronze-certified PSU. It’s better to
liquid-cooling systems can be found in connectivity you need. Keep in mind, too, buy a higher-wattage PSU than you strictly
user-friendly, easy-to-install packages, and that if you want to try overclocking, only need, as it will allow you to add more
for the most part it’s as simple as inserting certain Intel chipsets will support it, such as components in the future. Also, check which
each component into a particular slot. Z370 and Z390. AMD is more relaxed, RAM is compatible with your motherboard
enabling overclocking on all its Ryzen- before buying, although for all current
02 Arguably the most important

component is the CPU. These days
compatible chipsets, except A320 and A300. models it’s probably going to be DDR4.
you can get a quad-core chip even on a tight

budget, which should provide more than
enough brainpower for simple tasks such as
04 While CPU integrated graphics will
suffice for everyday browsing, a
dedicated graphics card is essential for
07 Our recommended storage setup
comprises both an SSD and a larger
mechanical hard disk. By installing Windows
web browsing, but hexa-core and octa-core high-quality gaming. These can be installed in (and a few choice applications) on the SSD,
chips are better for tougher jobs such as a PCI-E x16 slot on your motherboard, and you can ensure fast booting and loading
media editing, gaming and content creation. have the bonus of adding more display times, while the HDD is a cost-effective way
The CPU will also determine which outputs to use – just make sure the card of storing lots of files. Alternatively, you
motherboards you can choose from. will fit inside your chosen case. could buy a hard disk, and then install an
Intel CPUs will only work with boards that Intel Optane Memory module to accelerate
use an Intel chipset, like Z390, Z370 and
B360, while AMD processors need AMD
chipsets, such as X470 and B450.
05 On the subject of cases, personal
taste will factor highly here: nobody
wants an ugly PC. That said, picking a chassis
its write speeds to SSD levels, although since
SSDs are barely more expensive than Optane
drives, this is perhaps better for situations
with adequate space for components is vital. when you want to upgrade from an existing
03 When choosing a motherboard, think

about both the size of the PC’s
chassis (smaller cases won’t fit larger ATX or
As already mentioned, an ATX motherboard
likely won’t fit in a mini-tower case, and if
you want to install a lot of hard disks, you’ll
hard disk, rather than when you’re building a
whole new system. In the latter case, an SSD/
HDD combo is better all round. See page 58
EATX boards, for instance) and how many need a case with sufficient drive bays. for our recommended storage drives.
BUDGET PCs
AMD Ryzen 3 2200G
G A
ASROCK Fatal1ty AB350
350
★★★★★ Gaming-ITX/ac
G
£84 • www.amzn.to/2TImlHh ★★★★★
★★
This plucky quad-core
chip is decently fast,
£95 • www.cclonline.com
comes bundled with its Tiny it may be, but the AB350
350 makes
mak the
own cooler and – unlike most Ryzen chipss most of what space it has available. Multiple display
– includes integrated Radeon RX Vega graphics.
aphics. outputs, a rear-mounted M.2 port and onboard Wi-Fi
It’s therefore particularly ideal if you don’tt need
d the
th added power mean it almost has the specs of a respectable ATX model.
of dedicated graphics.
PROCESSOR SOCKET AM4 • DIMENSIONS 170x170mm • CHIPSET AMD B350 • MEMORY
SOCKET AM4 • CORES 4 • FREQUENCY 3.4GHz • INTEGRATED GRAPHICS AMD Radeon RX SLOTS 2 • PCI-E X16 SLOTS 1 • PCI-E X1 SLOTS 0 • PCI SLOTS 0 • USB PORTS 2x USB2, 2x USB3,
Vega 8 • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com • PART CODE YD2200C5FBBOX 1x USB Type-C • VIDEO OUTPUTS 2x HDMI • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.asrock.
• FULL REVIEW Jul 2018 com • PART CODE 90-MXB5P0-A0UAYZ • FULL REVIEW Jul 2018
THERMALTAKE Versa H18 ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£40 • www.kustompcs.co.uk £140 • www.amzn.to/2Qi7bG7
Budget PC cases are often An optional purchase,
ase,
lacking in both features and thanks to the Ryzen
en
capacity for upgrades. CPU’s onboard
The Versa H18 isn’t entirely exempt, and is graphics, but if you’d like a spot of
limited to smaller motherboards, but it can easily 1080p gaming capability, the GTX 1050 Ti
cope with basic components and ambitious is the best budget GPU around. Zotac’s
water-cooled builds alike. compact design will allow it to easily
ily fit in
small cases, too.
CASE TYPE Mini-tower • MOTHERBOARD TYPE MicroATX, Mini-ITX • SUPPLIED FANS 1x 120mm
• MAX DRIVE BAYS 2x 3.5in, 2x 2.5in • DIMENSIONS 390x205x380mm • WEIGHT 4.5kg • GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti • MEMORY 4GB GDDR5 • GRAPHICS CARD LENGTH 145mm •
WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.thermaltake.com • PART CODE CA-1J4-00S1WN-00 WARRANTY Five years RTB • DETAILS www.zotac.com • PART CODE ZT-P10510A-10L • FULL
• FULL REVIEW Nov 2018 REVIEW Nov 2017

MID-RANGE PCs
AMD Ryzen 7 1700 MSI B350M Mortar
M rtar
★★★★★ ★★★★★
★★
£149 • www.amzn.to/2RhQGHp £100
£10 • www.amzn.to/2zuBbF1
Both AMD and Intel A near-perfect
have recent mid-range
nge motherboard forr
chips, but with the AMD Ryzen-based sed
erstwhile high-end Ryzen 7 1700 dropping
ropping microATX systems. It’s remarkably
bly well
below £200, it’s a great way of adding equipped for connectivity and upgradability, and comes close to
octa-core power to a PC that might otherwise much more expensive mobos in performance benchmarks.
have had to make do with six cores.
PROCESSOR SOCKET AM4 • DIMENSIONS 244x244mm • CHIPSET AMD B350 • MEMORY
SOCKET AM4 • CORES 8 • FREQUENCY 3.0GHz • INTEGRATED GRAPHICS None • SLOTS 4 • PCI-E X16 SLOTS 2 • PCI-E X1 SLOTS 2 • PCI SLOTS 0 • USB PORTS 2x USB2, 3x USB3.1,
WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.amd.com • PART CODE YD1700BBAEBOX • 1x USB Type-C • VIDEO OUTPUTS 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 1x DVI-D • WARRANTY One year RTB •
FULL REVIEW Jul 2017 DETAILS www.msi.com • PART CODE B350M Mortar • FULL REVIEW Jul 2018
NVIDIA GeForce RX 2060

060 COOLER MASTER MasterBox K500
Founders Edition ★★★★★
★★★★★ £75 • www.scan.co.uk
£329 • www.nvidia.com Great looks, a full set of
pre-installed fans, high build
This is expensive for a
quality and a spacious interior:
mid-range GPU, but it’s
the MasterBox K500 is a commendable
also very powerful for a
all-rounder. It’s not the best on storage capacity,
mid-range model. Besides borderline
but you can still add at least a couple of SSDs
4K-ready core performance, this comes with the same ray-tracing
and hard disks each.
and DLSS bells and whistles as Nvidia’s premium RTX cards, so it’s
still pretty good value in the end. CASE TYPE Mid-tower • MOTHERBOARD TYPE ATX, microATX,
Mini-ITX • SUPPLIED FANS 3x 120mm • MAX DRIVE BAYS 3x 3.5in,
GPU Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 • MEMORY 6GB GDDR6 • GRAPHICS CARD LENGTH 229mm • 2x 2.5in • DIMENSIONS 260xx190x280mm • WEIGHT 6.2kg •
WARRANTY Three years repair and replace • DETAILS www.nvidia.com • PART CODE GeForce WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www.coolermaster.com •
RTX 2060 Founders Edition • FULL REVIEW May 2019 PART CODE MCB-K500D-KGNN-S00 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2019
PREMIUM PCs
INTEL Core i9-9900K MSI MPG Z390 Gaming
g Edge
g AC
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£470 • www.ebuyer.com £140 • www.scan.co.uk
Intel’s 9th-gen chips see From built-in 802.11ac
it finally joining the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to
octa-core club, including high-end audio connectivity,
ity,
the flagship Core i9-9900K. With Turbo the MPG Z370 Gaming Edge AC is stuffed with
Boost speeds hitting 5GHz straight out of features. Add in a good price, easy overclocking and a well-designed
the box, it’s a just as potent in single-core gaming as it is in BIOS, and it’s perfect for premium Intel-based builds.
serious multithreaded workloads.
PROCESSOR SOCKET LGA1151 • DIMENSIONS 305x244mm • CHIPSET Intel Z390 • MEMORY
SOCKET LGA1151 • CORES 8 • FREQUENCY 3.6GHz • INTEGRATED GRAPHICS Intel UHD Graphics SLOTS 4 • PCI-E x16 SLOTS 3 • PCI-E x1 SLOTS 3 • PCI SLOTS 0 • USB PORTS 2x USB2, 2x USB3,
630 • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www.intel.com • PART CODE BX80684I99900K • 1x USB3.1, 1x USB Type-C • VIDEO OUTPUTS 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort • WARRANTY One year RTB
FULL REVIEW Jan 2019 • DETAILS www.msi.com • PART CODE MPG Z390 Gaming Edge AC • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019
THERMALTAKE View 37 MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Armor 8G

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£108 • www.ebuyer.com £450 • www.ebuyer.com
A spacious, feature-rich Whereas the RTX
chassis for both ATX- and 2080 and RTX 2080
EATX-based builds, the View Ti charge exorbitant
37 comes with a gull-wing side window that’s amounts for their fancy ray-tracing
perfect for showing off your handiwork. and anti-aliasing tech, the RTX 2070
delivers the same features at a
CASE TYPE Mid-tower • MOTHERBOARD TYPE ATX, EATX,
much more reasonable price. It can also handle 4K gaming without
microATX, Mini-ITX • SUPPLIED FANS 2x 140mm • MAXIMUM much fuss, and MSI’s version stays very cool under load.
DRIVE BAYS 7x 3.5in, 11x 2.5in • DIMENSIONS 525x261x538mm •
WEIGHT 11.8kg • WARRANTY Three years RTB • DETAILS www. GPU Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 • MEMORY 8GB GDDR6 • GRAPHICS CARD LENGTH 155mm •
thermaltake.com • PART CODE CA-1J7-00M1WN-00 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.msi.com • PART CODE RTX 2070 Armor 8G •
FULL REVIEW Dec 2018 FULL REVIEW Mar 2019

Choosing a... Display
01 A basic 24in LCD monitor costs
around £100. It will be fine for typical
Windows work but is likely to have poor
Many DVI and all HDMI connections
support HDCP, which lets you watch
protected video content, such as Blu-ray
cable or either HDMI or DisplayPort to use a
monitor at these resolutions.
viewing angles, so you’ll need to sit straight

on for the best picture quality. Its colour
accuracy may not be very good, either.
movies. DisplayPort is becoming more
popular, but you’ll need a graphics card with
a DisplayPort output (mini or full-size) to
04 If you want better picture quality,
look for a monitor with a high
contrast ratio. The higher the ratio, the
use this input on your monitor. whiter the whites and the blacker the blacks.
02 A VGA input lets you use the monitor

with any PC, but the quality may not
be as good as it is over DVI or HDMI. Both 03 A larger monitor will be easier on the
eye and may have a higher resolution.
You’ll also be able to see more fine detail in
images with high contrast levels. Viewing
angles are important, as wider angles mean
are digital connections and require a Most monitors have a resolution of at least you don’t have to sit directly in front of the
compatible graphics card but they avoid the 1,920x1,080 (1080p), which provides lots of monitor to get the best picture. Wider
need for digital-to-analogue or analogue-to- room for working with multiple windows at viewing angles also allow more people to
digital conversions, which can reduce image the same time. For even higher resolutions, view the screen at the same time.
quality. A digital connection achieves the you’ll need a larger display. Some 27in and Fast response times reduce ghosting,
best picture automatically, so you won’t have 30in screens have 2,560x1,600 or even 4K but don’t be dazzled by the numbers. A
to adjust clock or phase settings as you do resolutions. You’ll need a graphics card with response time of 25ms or quicker is fine
with analogue connections. a dual-link DVI output and a dual-link DVI for all applications.
DISPLAYS
LG 34GK950F NEW IIYAMA G-Master Black
ENTRY
★★★★★
£1,150 • www.overclockers.co.uk
o.uk Hawk G2530HSU-B1
★★★★★
LG’s curved £124 • www.box.co.uk
ultrawide monitor
is as versatile as it A fine alternative monitor to the AOC G2460VQ6,
is vibrant. HDR is supported (if only to the DisplayHDR 400 standard), also with a 75Hz refresh rate as well as FreeSync
colours are accurate, and both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync can support for tear-free gaming on AMD graphics cards.
smooth out games. The slim-bezel design is good for the money, too.
SCREEN SIZE 34in • RESOLUTION 3,440x1,440 • REFRESH RATE 144Hz • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY SCREEN SIZE 24in • RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY TN • VIDEO INPUTS
IPS • VIDEO INPUTS HDMI, DisplayPort • WARRANTY Three years collect and return • DETAILS HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA • WARRANTY Two years onsite • DETAILS www.iiyama.com •
www.lg.com • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019 PART CODE G2530HSU-B1 • FULL REVIEW Mar 2019
EIZO ColorEdge CG279X AOC Q3279VWF

★★★★★ ★★★★★
NEW
£1,699 • www.wexphotovideo.com ENTRY £199 • www.amzn.to/2BjxUGC
This professional-quality
quality We never thought
monitor benefits from you could get so
automatic calibration, much monitor for this
ensuring practically perfect colour accuracy
cy little cash: a vast 31.5in MVA panel, with
and wide coverage of the sRGB, DCI-P and Adobe RGB gamuts. Quad HD resolution, good colour accuracy and high contrast. That’s
It’s a worthwhile investment for editing photos and videos. not to mention its 75Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync support.
SCREEN SIZE 27in • RESOLUTION 2,560x1,440 • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY IPS • REFRESH RATE SCREEN SIZE 31.5in • RESOLUTION 2,560x1,440 • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY MVA • REFRESH RATE
60Hz • VIDEO INPUTS VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, USB Type-C • WARRANTY Five years RTB • 75Hz • VIDEO INPUTS HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA • WARRANTY Three years collect and return •
DETAILS www.eizoglobal.cpm • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019 DETAILS aoc-europe.com • FULL REVIEW Mar 2018
PHILIPS Brilliance 241B7QPJKEB

Q J SAMSUNG C34F791
1
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£182 • www.uk.insight.com £675 • www.amzn.to/2n1Nb9V
IPS monitors generally look With its Quantum Dot ot
great, but it’s hard to find one display, the C34F791 can
at a low price. Enter the achieve pristine colour
ur coverage
Brilliance 241B7QPJKEB: a colour-accuate IPS and superp accuracy. Its Ultra HD resolution and 34in curved screen
display for well under £200. It’s well designed, make it ideal for multitasking, but a 100Hz refresh rate and AMD
too, with a collapsible webcam and a greatly adjustable stand. FreeSync support ensure it’s even better for 4K gaming.
SCREEN SIZE 24in • RESOLUTION 1,920x1,080 • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY IPS • REFRESH SCREEN SIZE 34in • RESOLUTION 3,840x1,440 • SCREEN TECHNOLOGY VA •
RATE 60Hz • VIDEO INPUTS HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA • WARRANTY Three years RTB • REFRESH RATE 100Hz • VIDEO INPUTS DisplayPort, HDMI • WARRANTY Two years RTB •
DETAILS www.philips.co.uk • FULL REVIEW Jun 2018 DETAILS www.samsung.com/uk • FULL REVIEW Oct 2017

Choosing an... Inkjet printer
01 You should be able to buy a decent
inkjet printer for less than £40.
High-quality printing is possible on such a
03 If photos are your priority, speed is
less important. Choose a printer that
reproduces subtle tones well. You can’t
sided) printing or A3 capabilities are now
much more affordable.
printer, but it will be slow. The actual print

speed of an inkjet can be half the quoted
(maximum) speed for text documents,
determine this by looking at the
specifications – only hands-on testing will
do, so remember to check our reviews
05 Pricier photo printers let you print
from memory cards plugged straight
into the printer, so you don’t need to use a
and even slower when printing graphics. before you buy. PC. An LCD preview screen offers greater
Budget inkjet printers such as these are Borderless printing (up to the edge of control for this method of printing. Many
designed only for light use and can be the paper) should also be possible. Pay inkjet printers now have a PictBridge USB
expensive to run. particular attention to running costs: port, which you can use to print images
photos use three times as much ink as directly from most digital cameras.
02 For £80 to £90 you can buy a more

capable printer that’s either faster and
regular colour documents.
06 If you’re really serious about

better built or better at reproducing photos.
If documents are your priority, you’ll want a
high minimum speed and low print costs.
04 Heavy-duty office inkjets can cost
up to £1,000 and their build quality
is improving. They use large individual ink
photography, consider buying an
inkjet that can produce borderless prints
up to A3 size. The best devices can print
Look for inkjets that can handle all your tanks, which can cut running costs. photos that look nearly as good as those
office media, such as envelopes and labels. Printers with automatic duplex (double- from professional labs.
PRINTERS & SCANNERS

EPSON WorkForce XYZPRINTING da Vinci Minimaker
★★★★★
WF-7710DWF £177 • www.xyzprinting.com
★★★★★
£162 • www.amzn.to/2JVaD3B It’s not as fully featured as the da
Vinci Jr 1.0w, but the Minimaker
The WorkForce WF-7710DWF allows you to print at prints at identical speed and
the larger A3+ paper size, as well as fax and scan at quality, and costs much, much less. In fact, it’s the
he
A3, so it’s great for home office users who require a most affordable 3D printer we’ve ever used.
bit more flexibility from their MFP.
TECHNOLOGY Fused Filament Fabrication • MAXIMUM PRINT RESOLUTION 100 microns •
TECHNOLOGY Piezo inkjet • MAXIMUM PRINT RESOLUTION 4,800x2,400dpi • DIMENSIONS MAXIMUM BUILD SIZE 150x150x150mm • DIMENSIONS 390x360x335mm • WEIGHT 11.5kg •
340x567x452mm • WEIGHT 18.7kg • MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A3+ • WARRANTY One year RTB • FILAMENT 1.75mm PLA • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS eu.xyzprinting.com •
DETAILS www.epson.co.uk • PART CODE C11CG36411 • FULL REVIEW Nov 2018 PART CODE 3FM1XXEU00D • FULL REVIEW Apr 2017
HP OfficeJet Pro 7720 CANON Pixma TS3150

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£134 • www.ebuyer.com £36 • www.ebuyer.com
The OfficeJet Pro 7720 If you only print or scan
strikes a fine balance infrequently, you probably
between price, performance and features, making it don’t need a load of fancy features. The Pixma TS3150
ideal for home offices and small businesses – especially those that does the job for hardly any money – it’s a bit slow, but the results are
could use A3 printing. of a higher quality than we’d expect from a budget MFP.
TECHNOLOGY Thermal inkjet • MAXIMUM PRINT RESOLUTION 4,800x1,200dpi • TECHNOLOGY Thermal inkjet • MAXIMUM PRINT RESOLUTION 4,800x1,200dpi •
SCANNER RESOLUTION 1,200x1,200dpi • DIMENSIONS (HXWXD) 307x445x585mm • SCANNER RESOLUTION 600x1,200dpi • DIMENSIONS 126x373x315mm • WEIGHT 3.9kg •
WEIGHT 15.5kg • MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A3 (print only) • WARRANTY Three years RTB • MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A4/legal • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.canon.co.uk •
DETAILS www.hp.co.uk • PART CODE Y0S18A • FULL REVIEW Dec 2017 PART CODE 2226C008 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2018
CANON imageFormula EPSON EcoTank ET-7750

DR-C230 ★★★★★
£479 • www.jessops.com
★★★★★
£322 • www.ebuyer.com Like all EcoTank MFPs, the
This sheet-fed document scanner
nner ET-7750 offsets its high
is perfect for getting through stacks
ack off documents
d price with low running
without having to manually scan each page. It’s costs, and this specific model delivers sharp,
pleasantly fast and pairs with Canon’s powerful CaptureOnTouch Pro solid colours that suit photo printing well.
software, which does a fine job of processing your scans.
TECHNOLOGY Piezo inkjet • MAXIMUM PRINT RESOLUTION 5,760x1,440 •
TECHNOLOGY Dual CIS sheet-fed scanner • SCANNER RESOLUTION 600x600dpi • DIMENSIONS SCANNER RESOLUTION 1,200x2,400dpi • DIMENSIONS 168x526x415mm • WEIGHT 10.5kg •
231x291x530mm • WEIGHT 2.8kg • MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A4/legal • WARRANTY One year RTB MAXIMUM PAPER SIZE A3 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.epson.co.uk •
• DETAILS www.canon.co.uk • PART CODE 2646C003 • FULL REVIEW Feb 2018 PART CODE C11CG16401CE • FULL REVIEW Sep 2018

Choosing a... Wireless router
01 Wireless routers each use a number
of Wi-Fi standards, so you shouldn’t
have any trouble connecting your computer
a wireless router that has a built-in ADSL
modem. This will cost more than the
equivalent cable router, but it allows you
Alternatively, a high-gain antenna can
boost signals and improve ranges and
throughputs to the entire house. You can
or phone wirelessly if you get an 802.11n or to connect your router directly to your also add a high-gain antenna to a PC’s
802.11ac router. Nearly all routers support broadband connection without having to network adaptor. If wired network speeds
802.11n, so even a cheap model should use a separate modem. are a priority, you should look for a router
provide decent performance. with a Gigabit Ethernet connection.
You can expect a transfer speed of around
40Mbit/s at a distance of 10m from any
modern 802.11n router. The very latest
03 Most 802.11n wireless routers use
the 2.4GHz frequency band. This has
good range but it can be prone to 04 Many routers come with built-in USB
ports that let you connect a USB drive
routers use the 802.11ac standard, which interference if it’s positioned close to a lot and use the router as a network storage
provides tremendously fast transfer of other 2.4GHz devices, such as other device. If you want to share a USB printer
speeds. Some devices still don’t support routers and baby monitors. If you have over your network, look for a wireless router
the 802.11ac standard, so check the trouble getting a consistent signal or you that has a USB print server.
specifications before you buy. want faster speeds for video streaming, for Finally, if you’re interested in making voice
example, it’s worth buying a dual-band calls over the internet, buy a router with
02 If you subscribe to an ADSL

broadband service, you should buy
router that can use both the 2.4GHz and
5GHz bands.
built-in VoIP support (and phone sockets)
because this can save you money.
NETWORKS
BT Complete TP-LINK Archer C5400
400
★★★★★
Wi-Fi £240 • www.currys.co.uk
★★★★★
£5 per month • www.bt.com Although this isn’t
There are the fastest £200-plus
better-featured
red router, it’s still speedy,
mesh systems available,
ailabl but the Complete
C l Wi-Fi is
i and comes with an impressive array of
decently quick on both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, and is well features, from parental controls and
worth it for BT Plus customers in particular. filters to BT YouView support and smart home integration.
WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ac • STATED SPEED 1,733Mbit/s (5GHz), 385Mbit/s (2.4GHz) • MODEM Gigabit Ethernet • WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ac • STATED SPEED 2x 2,167Mbit/s (5GHz),
USB PORTS 1 • WALL MOUNTABLE No • WARRANTY Under rental co contract • 2x 1,000MBit/s (2.4GHz) • USB PORTS 1x USB2, 1x USB3 • WALL MOUNTABLE Yes •
PART CODE BT Complete Wi-Fi • FULL REVIEW Mar 2019 WARRANTY One year RTB • PART CODE C5400 • FULL REVIEW May 2018
YUBICO YubiKey 5 NFC T

TP-LINK Deco M5
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£38 • www.yubico.com £180 (triple pack) • www.amzn.to/2L05qMi
5qMi
Like the YubiKey 4 Provided you’re willing

before it, this USB stick to tinker with a few
conveniently stores all the cryptographic
ographic settings, the Deco M5 is
data you need to add two-factor authentication to a PC or the most feature-rich mesh Wi-Fi system around,
laptop; and this time, there’s NFC, allowing you to use it with even if it’s not strictly the fastest. Get the triple
mobile devices via a single tap. pack for the best coverage throughout the house.
he house
USB TYPE Type-A • OS SUPPORT Windows 10, macOS, iOS 11 and later, Android • MODEM Gigabit Ethernet • WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ac • STATED SPEED 867Mbit/s (5GHz),
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.yubico.com • PART CODE YubiKey 5 NFC • 400Mbit/s (2.4GHz) • USB PORTS 0 • WALL MOUNTABLE No • WARRANTY Three years RTB •
FULL REVIEW Apr 2019 DETAILS www.tp-link.com • PART CODE 210380 • FULL REVIEW Dec 2017
D-LINK DIR-895L NETGEAR Orbi RBK50

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£255 • www.ebuyer.com £320 • www.currys.co.uk
If you can stomach This is an expensive
the price, D-Link’s mesh Wi-Fi system,
DIR-895L will make but also one of the
it worth your while with staggeringly fast speeds and exceptionally very fastest – perfect for ensuring that
long range. It also lets you connect to your home network remotely, a high-speed connection keeps up its
via an L2TP VPN. performance at range.
MODEM Gigabit Ethernet • WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ac • STATED SPEED 2x 2,166Mbit/s (5GHz), MODEM Gigabit Ethernet • WI-FI STANDARD 802.11ac • STATED SPEED 3,000Mbit/s •
1,000Mbit/s (2.4GHz) • USB PORTS 1x USB2, 1x USB3 • WALL MOUNTABLE Yes • USB PORTS 1 • WALL MOUNTABLE No • WARRANTY Two years RTB •
WARRANTY Two years RTB • PART CODE DIR-895L • FULL REVIEW Dec 2017 PART CODE RBK50-100UKS • FULL REVIEW Dec 2017

Choosing a... Smart thermostat
01 A smart thermostat can save you a
lot of money by intelligently
controlling your heating.
02 Want smart hot water control?
If you want to remotely set
schedules and disable hot water while
This option is more expensive to install but
will provide you with greater savings.
Most smart heating devices are designed

to be used with hot water central heating
systems, with the boiler directly controlled
you’re away, choose your smart system
carefully, as many don’t have this option.
Hot water control usually requires a second
04 Do you use a smart personal
assistant? Make sure that your smart
thermostat supports the one that you use.
by the system. These typically require a relay relay to be wired into the boiler. Amazon Alexa, powered by the Echo and
to be wired into your boiler, with a wireless Echo Dot, is the best-supported system;
thermostat giving you direct control.
Smartphone apps then tie into the system to
give you remote control. While it’s possible
03 What kind of heating system do
you want? There are two main
choices: a central system and one with
Apple’s HomeKit, powered by Siri, isn’t so
well supported; Google Assistant, built into
Google Home, is just gaining traction and
to fit controls yourself, you may want to pay individual radiator controls. The former supports Nest only.
an experienced plumber to do the job: expect replaces your existing thermostat, and
to pay around £150 for a typical installation.
If you have electric heating, there are
very few choices, and the big names (Nest,
lets you set one temperature for your
entire house. The latter requires each
radiator valve to be replaced with a
05 If you want your smart heating
system to do more, look for IFTTT
support. With this handy system, you can set
Honeywell and so on) do not directly smart valve so that each room and automatic rules, such as turning the heating
support these systems. radiator can have its own individual control. off if the outside temperature rises.
SMART HOME
AMAZON Echo 2nd Generation NEST Cam IQ Outdoor
door
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£70 • www.amzn.to/2DxFEuQ £329 • nest.com/uk
The updated Echo is both While this is an expensive
nsive
smaller and cheaper than replacement for the oldld Nest
the original, and while the souped-up Cam Outdoor, its image
mage quality
£140 Echo Plus is better for listening to music, this is without equal. Facial and sound recognition
ecognition
model’s blend of value and all-round quality makes it have also been improved, and it’s now w much
a better buy. harder for thieves to remove the camera mount.
era from its mount
DRIVERS 2 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • WEIGHT 921kg • NETWORKING Bluetooth, VIDEO RESOLUTION 4K sensor, 1080p recording • CLOUD STORAGE Yes (subscription required) •
802.11n Wi-Fi • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.amazon.co.uk • PART CODE Echo NETWORKING 802.11ac • WARRANTY One year RTB • PART CODE Nest Cam IQ Outdoor •
2nd Generation • FULL REVIEW Mar 2018 FULL REVIEW Jul 2018
TADO Smart Thermostat NEOS Smartcam NEW

ENTRY
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£153 • www.amzn.to/2ZxwIfZ £20 • shop.neos.co.uk
A flexible and stylish-looking The Smartcam is a tremendous
mendous
smart heating system, the Tado bargain of an indoor security
Smart Thermostat distinguishes camera. In many ways, it’s not all
itself with a clever geolocation feature that turns on your that advanced – footage is only shot at up to
heating when you enter a room and switches it off, saving 15fps, for instance – but the 1080p resolution,
olution,
money, when you leave. night-vision mode and free cloud storagerage make
ake
for a nifty little package.
REMOTE THERMOSTAT Yes • HOT WATER SUPPORT Yes • INDIVIDUAL RADIATOR CONTROL
Yes • VOICE ASSISTANT SUPPORT Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri • APPS iOS, Android and web • VIDEO RESOLUTION 1080p • CLOUD STORAGE Yes (free)
ree) • NETWORKING 802.11n •
FULL REVIEW Jan 2018 WARRANTY One year RTB • PART CODE NS-CAM-02 • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019
GOOGLE Home Hub RING Video Doorbell 2

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£99 • www.currys.co.uk £149 • www.box.co.uk
The first truly excellent This is the best of the new
smart screen, Google’s breed of smart, camera-
Home Hub is both a equipped doorbells: it’s easy
multitalented smart home controller and a very clever device in itself, to install, comes with a bundled chime, and
jumping seamlessly between providing mapped-out travel routes, has fairly low subscription costs for storing
playing YouTube videos and showcasing photo albums. footage in the cloud.
DRIVERS 1 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • DOCK CONNECTOR None • WIRELESS 802.11ac VIDEO RESOLUTION 1080p • CLOUD STORAGE Yes •
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 • DIMENSIONS 118x179x67mm • WEIGHT 480g • WARRANTY One year RTB NETWORKING 802.11n • WARRANTY Two years parts and theft
• PART CODE Home Hub • FULL REVIEW Feb 2019 protection • PART CODE 8VR1S7-0EU0 • FULL REVIEW Dec 2018

Choosing a... Smartphone
01 A smartphone’s operating system
(OS) dictates its basic features and
which third-party software you can install.
and watch Full HD videos. Don’t worry too
much about built-in media players or Office
document editors; you can always install apps
a variety of custom onscreen keyboards so
you can find one that suits you.
There are three main contenders: Apple’s

iOS, which is found on the iPhone, Google’s
Android, which is used by various handset
to replace these with better versions later.
The image quality of smartphone
cameras has improved tremendously in
04 Be careful when choosing a contract.
Look for one that includes a large data
allowance if you want to use the internet
manufacturers, and Windows Phone, which recent years, and resolutions have regularly or you’ve set your phone to
has few options, especially since Microsoft increased to as high as 20 megapixels. synchronise your contacts, calendar and
has discontinued support for its OS. email through online services.
Apple iOS and Google Android both have
thousands of apps available. 03 Very few modern smartphones have
a physical keyboard for entering text;
they almost exclusively use touchscreens
Built-in Wi-Fi can help you avoid high data
charges by connecting to the internet
through wireless hotspots when you’re out,
02 All smartphones have colour screens,

but their resolutions vary. Basic models
have 1,280x720 pixels, but text can be
now. Physical keyboards can aid heavy
emailing, but today’s touchscreen
keyboards work just as well.
or your router when you’re at home. Android
and iPhone handsets can operate as wireless
hotspots, letting you connect your laptop to
indistinct. Look for a display that has at least Android smartphones and iPhones the web over your mobile data connection.
1,920x1,080 pixels so it’s easier to read text running iOS 9 or above allow you to install There may be an extra charge for this.
SMARTPHONES
MOTOROLA Moto G7 Power ONEPLUS 6T
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£180 SIM-free, £15-per-month contract • NEW £499 SIM-free; £48-per-month contract www. •
www.carphonewarehouse.com
ENTRY oneplus.com (SIM-free); www.o2.co.uk (contract)
There’s no shortage of Moto G7 variants
ria OnePlus’s handsets no longer surprise,
to choose from, but the Moto G7 Power but they’re still great phones that cost
is easily the best value. It focuses on less than a Samsung or Huawei
battery life and is thus one of the longest-lasting equivalent. The 6T comes with a top-tier processor,
smartphones ever - and its performance, display and rear in-display fingerprint sensor and excellent battery life.
camera are all rather good for the price, too.
PROCESSOR Octa-core 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 • SCREEN SIZE 6.4in • SCREEN
PROCESSOR Octa-core 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 • SCREEN SIZE 6.2in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,340x1,080 • REAR CAMERA 16 megapixels, 20 megapixels • STORAGE 128GB •
RESOLUTION 1,520x720 • REAR CAMERA 12 megapixels • STORAGE 32GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G • WIRELESS DATA 4G • DIMENSIONS 158x75x8.2mm • WEIGHT 185g • OPERATING SYSTEM
SIZE 159x76x9.3mm • WEIGHT 193g • OPERATING SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY One year Android 9.0 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS wwww.oneplus.com
eplus.com • PART CODE SOnePlus
RTB • DETAILS www.motorola.co.uk • PART CODE PAE90019GB • FULL REVIEW June 2019 6T • FULL REVIEW March 2019
HONOR 7X GOOGLE Pixel 3

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£199 SIM-free; £27-per-month contract • £589 SIM-free; £37-per-month contract •
www.amzn.to/2UUsvVg (SIM-free); store.google.com (SIM-free);
www.three.co.uk (contract) www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk (contract)
Don’t fancy paying tons of cash for an Pure Android quality on a powerful
owerful
edge-to-edge, 18:9 display? The Honor handset with one of the best
7X is affordable but has a vast, vibrant smartphone cameras ever. The larger
screen, and comes with a great dual-camera array. display is also the best-looking of any Pixel phone ye
yet.
t.
PROCESSOR Octa-core 2.36GHz HiSilicon Kirin 659 • SCREEN SIZE 6in • SCREEN RESOLUTION PROCESSOR Quad-core 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 • SCREEN SIZE IZE 5.5in • SCREEN
2,160x1,080 • REAR CAMERA Dual 16 megapixels • STORAGE 64GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G • RESOLUTION 2,160x1,080 • REAR CAMERA 12.2 megapixels • STORAGE 64GB • WIRELESS DATA
DIMENSIONS 157x75x7.6mm • WEIGHT 165g • OPERATING SYSTEM Android 7.0 • WARRANTY 4G • DIMENSIONS 146x68x7.9mm • WEIGHT 148g • OPERATING SYSTEM Android 9.0 • WARRANTY
One year RTB • DETAILS www.hihonor.com • PART CODE 51092ADQ • FULL REVIEW Apr 2018 One year RTB • DETAILS store.google.com • PART CODE Pixel 3 • FULL REVIEW Feb 2019
APPLE iPhone XR XIAOMI Pocophone F1

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£709 SIM-free; £45-per-month contract • £280 SIM-free; £22-per-month contract www.ebuyer. •
www.debenhamsplus.com (SIM-free); com; www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk (contract)
www.tescomobile.com (contract) The Pocophone F1, one of Xiaomi’s
first smartphones to get a proper
It’s still expensive, but the XR matches
UK release, is a phenomenal bargain:
the performance of the iPhone XS and
it has the same Snapdragon 845 chip as a lot of
XS Max, despite costing hundreds of
premium handsets, plus dual rear cameras, 64GB of
pounds less, and it has a fantastic camera and display.
storage and a 6.2in screen, all for a mid-range price.
PROCESSOR Hexa-core Apple A12 Bionic • SCREEN SIZE 6.1in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 1,792x828 PROCESSOR Octa-core 2.GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 • SCREEN SIZE 6.2in • SCREEN
• REAR CAMERA 12 megapixels • STORAGE 64GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G • DIMENSIONS RESOLUTION 2,246x1,080 • REAR CAMERA 12 megapixels, 5 megapixels • STORAGE 64GB •
151x76x8.3mm • WEIGHT 194g • OPERATING SYSTEM iOS 12 • WARRANTY One year RTB • WIRELESS DATA 4G • DIMENSIONS 156x75x9mm • WEIGHT 180g • OPERATING SYSTEM Android
DETAILS www.apple.com • PART CODE iPhone XR • FULL REVIEW Mar 2019 8.1 • DETAILS www.mi.com/uk • PART CODE MZB6715EN • FULL REVIEW Mar 2019

Choosing a... Tablet
01 All tablets rely on an operating system
(OS) to run apps. You have three main
choices: Apple’s iOS, which runs on the iPad;
starting to see tablets that have even higher
screen resolutions. Some are as high as
2,560x1,600 or even 4K. Entry-level tablets
04 Tablets rarely include a SIM card
slot. This means you’ll have to rely
on Wi-Fi to get online, although some
Android, which Google licenses to various typically use TN panels, which don’t have tablets let you access the internet through
manufacturers; and Windows 10, which has particularly good viewing angles. The viewing your smartphone. If you want mobile access
become common in hybrid tablets and angles of IPS panels are much better. to the internet, look for 3G- and 4G-ready
convertibles. If you own an Apple or Google devices. These almost always cost more
smartphone, you can download your apps,
music and so on to a tablet that runs the
same OS, so it makes sense to stick with a
03 If you want to listen to music, watch
films and play games, make sure your
tablet has plenty of storage. Many tablets
than Wi-Fi-only models, but they’re great
if you use your tablet while commuting
or travelling.
compatible device. come with 8GB or 16GB of internal storage,
02 It’s important to pick a tablet that has

a good-quality, high-resolution screen.
although some budget models have less.
You’ll typically pay more for a higher storage
capacity. Many tablets also have microSD
05 Your choice of tablet determines the
apps you can use on it. You may find
that some of the apps you want are available
Many budget tablets have 1,280x800- slots that let you add extra storage, although on iOS but not Android, and vice versa.
resolution displays, but better tablets have you won’t find one on an iPad. This is a cheap Windows 10, meanwhile, runs traditional
Full HD 1,920x1,080 panels, and we’re way of boosting storage capacity. desktop applications.
TABLETS
SAMSUNG Galaxy Book 10.6in APPLE iPad (2018)
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£639 • www.amzn.to/2A9hljh £319 • www.apple.com/uk
Good budget 2-in-1s are rare, but Apple has recalibrated its focus
Samsung hits the mark with itss for the latest iPad, keeping the
10.6in Galaxy Book. The Full HDD existing design but turning it
touchscreen display looks great and, unlike with into an education aid with Apple Pencil support
the iPad Pro or Surface Pro ranges, the excellent keyboard and stylus and the Smart Annotation software feature. Even if you’re not a
peripherals come included in the box. teacher or in education, it’s still a powerful tablet at a decent price.
PROCESSOR Dual-core Intel Core m3-7Y30 • SCREEN SIZE 10.6in • SCREEN RESOLUTION PROCESSOR Quad-core Apple A10 Fusion • SCREEN SIZE 9.7in • SCREEN RESOLUTION
1,920x1,280 • REAR CAMERA None • STORAGE 64GB • WIRELESS DATA No • DIMENSIONS 2,048x1,536 • REAR CAMERA 8 megapixels • STORAGE 32GB • WIRELESS DATA None •
261x179x8.9mm • WEIGHT 650g • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10 Home • WARRANTY Two years DIMENSIONS 240x170x7.5mm • WEIGHT 469g • OPERATING SYSTEM iOS 11 • WARRANTY One
RTB • DETAILS www.samsung.com/uk • PART CODE SM-W620NZKAXAR • FULL REVIEW Nov 2017 year RTB • DETAILS www.apple.com/uk • PART CODE iPad • FULL REVIEW Aug 2018
APPLE iPad Pro 10.5in MICROSOFT Surface Go

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£600 • www.amzn.to/2Cq42f3 £509 • www.microsoft.com
While it’s still stuck with a If you’ve been craving a
mobile OS, rather than the tablet with the flexibility
productivity-friendly macOS, of a Surface Pro, without
there’s no arguing with the latest iPad Pro’s raw the usual expense, the Surface Go is a
power. An A10X Fusion chip makes it much faster than the 9.7in perfect fit. It’s smaller and uses a less powerful
werful Intel Pentium CPU,
model in both multitasking and single-threaded applications. but it’s still a much more work-ready 2-in-1 than any Android slate.
PROCESSOR Hexa-core 2.36GHz Apple A10X Fusion • SCREEN SIZE 10.5in • SCREEN RESOLUTION PROCESSOR Dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Pentium 4415Y • SCREEN SIZE 10in • SCREEN RESOLUTION
2,224x1,668 • REAR CAMERA 12 megapixels • STORAGE 64/256/512GB • WIRELESS DATA 4G (cellular 1,800x1,200 • REAR CAMERA 8 megapixels • STORAGE 128GB • WIRELESS DATA No •
version) • DIMENSIONS 251x174x6.1mm • WEIGHT 469g • OPERATING SYSTEM iOS 11 • WARRANTY DIMENSIONS 245x175x8.3mm • WEIGHT 522g • OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 10 S • WARRANTY
One year RTB • DETAILS www.apple.com/uk • PART CODE 9.7in iPad Pro • FULL REVIEW Oct 2017 One year RTB • DETAILS www.microsoft.com • PART CODE MCZ-00002 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2019
SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab S3 AMAZON Kindle Oasis (2017)

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£399 • www.amzn.to/2syXCFl £230 • www.amzn.to/2iz8Cge
Yes, it’s incredibly expensive for an The premium instalment
ment of
Android slate, but the Galaxy Tab S3 Amazon’s eReader line
ine is
is pure luxury: the AMOLED display back with a bigger screen,
reen,
looks exquisite, the stereo speakers sound great, and ambient light sensor and IPX8 waterproofing,
roofing,
Samsung’s S Pen stylus is included as standard. though its most interesting improvement ent is
the ability to play Audible Audiobooks.
ks.
PROCESSOR Quad-core 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 • SCREEN SIZE 9.7n •
SCREEN RESOLUTION 2,048x1,536 • REAR CAMERA 13 megapixels • STORAGE 32GB • PROCESSOR Not stated • SCREEN SIZE 7in • SCREEN RESOLUTION 300dpi • REAR CAMERA None
WIRELESS DATA None (4G optional) • DIMENSIONS 2937x169x6mm • WEIGHT 429g • • STORAGE 8GB • WIRELESS DATA Optional 3G • DIMENSIONS 159x141x8.3mm • WEIGHT 194g •
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 7.0 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.samsung.com/uk OPERATING SYSTEM Kindle OS • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.amazon.co.uk •
• PART CODE SM-T820 • FULL REVIEW Aug 2017 PART CODE Kindle Oasis (2017) • FULL REVIEW Mar 2018

Choosing a... Soundbar
01 If you don’t have space in your home
cinema setup for a set of surround-
sound speakers, a soundbar is the next best
boxes to your TV and run all audio through a
single cable. Also look for phono inputs for
connecting older devices and 3.5mm audio
Most soundbars now include Bluetooth as
standard but, if your device supports it, it’s
worth looking for a mobile soundbar that
thing. Whether you opt for a soundbar jacks for tablets or smartphones. includes aptX. This less-lossy codec is
(which typically sits in front of your TV capable of higher-quality streaming than
stand) or a soundplate (which sits
underneath your TV), you’ll be getting
significantly better audio than the weedy
03 As with any speaker, the number of
speaker drivers inside a soundbar
should give a good indication of its audio
the standard A2DP profile.
AirPlay streaming is less common, but
iPhone owners should keep an eye out for it.
speakers today’s flatscreen TVs provide. capabilities. Although this won’t tell you
02 If you want to cut down on cable

clutter, look for a soundbar with
everything about sound quality, you should
still look out for separate mid-range drivers
and tweeters, as these should be able to
05 For a little extra bass, be sure to
look for a soundbar with a separate
subwoofer. Many soundbars include a
multiple HDMI inputs and outputs as well as deliver a wider frequency range than wired sub, but for extra convenience you
Audio Return Channel (ARC). Not all full-range drivers alone. should look for a model with a wireless
soundbars use HDMI, with many making do subwoofer instead. These can be placed
with digital optical audio connections
instead. This means you’ll have to connect
Blu-ray players, games consoles and set-top
04 Bluetooth support is a must if you
want to listen to music from a
smartphone or tablet without wires.
anywhere in a room near a power socket,
without having to run a cable back to the
soundbar itself.
HOME CINEMA
PHILIPS 55PUS6753/12
53/1 SAMSUNG HW-N850
-N850
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£499 • www.ao.com £899 • www.box.co.uk
This Philips set There’s no
doesn’t have ultra-high-
the best tech trickery
implementation of HDR we’ve here: just a soundbar, subwoofer and their combined
seen on a TV, but otherwise, the 14 drivers blasting out pristine-quality audio, with Samsung’s usual
55PUS6753/12 is a fantastic 4K screen for a relatively low price. high standards for connectivity.
SCREEN SIZE 55in • NATIVE RESOLUTION 3,840x2,160 • VIDEO INPUTS 3x HDMI, 5x component • SPEAKERS 14 • RMS POWER OUTPUT 372W • DIMENSIONS 1,230x83x136mm (soundbar),
TUNER Freeview HD • DIMENSIONS 781x1,244x266mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • 203x400x416mm (subwoofer) • NETWORKING 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth • WARRANTY One year
DETAILS www.philips.co.uk • PART CODE 55PUS6753/12 • FULL REVIEW Dec 2018 RTB • DETAILS www.samsung.com/uk • PART CODE HW-N850 • FULL REVIEW Feb 2019
SONY PANASONIC DMP-UB900

★★★★★
KD-55XF9005 £319 • www.hifonix.co.uk
★★★★★
£999 • www.johnlewis.com Together with the
Samsung UBD-K8500, this forms the
Direct-lit backlighting, excellent upscaling and vanguard of a new breed of Ultra HD Blu-ray players.
beautifully smooth motion make the KD-55XF9005 a Samsung’s model is cheaper, but the DMP-UB900 has superior
worthy alternative to high-end OLED TVs, even though features, particularly where audio delivery is concerned.
it only has a VA panel.
SCREEN SIZE 55in • NATIVE RESOLUTION 3,840x2,160 • VIDEO INPUTS 4x HDMI • BLU-RAY PROFILE 6.0 • 3D CAPABLE Yes • DIMENSIONS 435x199x68mm •
TUNER Freeview HD • DIMENSIONS 771x1,228x258mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • NETWORKING Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi • WARRANTY One year RTB •
DETAILS www.sony.co.uk • PART CODE KD-55XF9005 • FULL REVIEW Aug 2018 DETAILS www.panasonic.co.uk • PART CODE DMP-UB900EB • FULL REVIEW Aug 2016
PHILIPS 65OLED803
03
3 SONOS Beam
S NEW
★★★★★ ★★★★★
★★ ENTRY
£2,299 • www.currys.co.uk £399
£39 • www.sonos.com
If you’ve got the budget
get The Beam could join
for an OLED TV, this is a a home cinema
great pick. The panel technology’s built-in setup on sound quality alone, but it’s loaded
strengths, such as perfect blacks and wide viewing angles, are with smart features, too. It can adjust sound output to the size
aided by Philips’ exemplary image processing engine, resulting in and layout of a room, for example, and form a multiroom system
truly wonderful picture quality. with other Sonos speakers.
SCREEN SIZE 65in • NATIVE RESOLUTION 3,840x2,160 • VIDEO INPUTS 4x HDMI, 1x Component SPEAKERS 5 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • DIMENSIONS 651x100x69mm • WEIGHT
• TUNER Freeview HD • DIMENSIONS 824x1,449x280mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • 2.8kg • DOCK CONNECTOR None • NETWORKING 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Ethernet • WARRANTY One
DETAILS www.philips.co.uk • PART CODE 65OLED803/12 • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019 year RTB • DETAILS www.sonos.com • PART CODE BEAM1UK1 • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019

Choosing a... Bluetooth speaker
01 Bluetooth speakers come in all shapes
and sizes, so you’ll need to decide
what you want to do with the speaker before
It’s hard to tell the difference when listening
to pocket-sized speakers, but if you’re
looking for a speaker to fill a room, an
Single-driver speakers with larger driver
cones can be just as capable of producing
fantastic audio, however.
you buy. If you don’t plan to take your music aptX-compatible device is a better option.
outdoors or around the house, look for a
wired speaker. These are typically cheaper
than speakers with built-in batteries.
This Bluetooth protocol retains more detail
than the A2DP profile, although you’ll need
to use it with a compatible smartphone in
04 Most Bluetooth speakers have at
least one auxiliary input for a wired
3.5mm audio jack, in case you want to
If you do want a portable speaker, order to get the benefits. listen to music from a device that doesn’t
however, pay particular attention to how have Bluetooth.
much it weighs. Ruggedised models should
be able to survive accidental drops, water
spills and unexpected rain showers.
03 As with any audio product, the
number and size of speaker drivers
can have a significant impact on the quality
There are other extra features to look out
for, though. Speakers with built-in batteries
may have a USB port for charging your
of sound you get from a Bluetooth speaker. smartphone, or a built-in microphone to turn
02 Many of the cheapest Bluetooth

speakers use the lossy A2DP
Bluetooth protocol, which is prone to
Typically, the presence of multiple drivers
enables the manufacturer to tune each one
for specific frequencies, directing high-end
it into a speakerphone when a paired
smartphone receives a call. Not all speakers
have physical controls; many rely on your
compressing your music and discarding sounds towards a tweeter and sending the paired device’s controls for adjusting the
detail compared with the original recording. mid-range frequencies to the main driver. volume or muting playback.
AUDIO
SENNHEISER HD 660
60 S SONY WH-1000XM3
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£360 • www.hifix.co.uk £280 • www.amzn.to/2HHUG1J
While they’re inspired by Bose’s QuietComfort
classic Sennheiser headphones have at last
headphones such as the been toppled from the ANC
HD 580 Precision, the HD 660 S bring a throne. The WH-1000XM3 headphones
more modern, bassy sound of their very own. don’t just sound outstanding, with very effective noise cancellation,
Being open-back, they’re best used at home. but they’re smartly designed and come with a host of extras.
HEADPHONES SUBTYPE Over-ear headset • PLUG TYPE 6.3mm/4.4
mm/4.4 jack plug • WEIGHT 260g • HEADPHONES SUBTYPE Over-ear headset • PLUG TYPE 3.5mm jack plug (optional) •
CABLE LENGTH 3m • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS en-uk.sennheiser.com • PART CODE WEIGHT 255g • CABLE LENGTH 1.2m • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.sony.co.uk •
HD 660 S • FULL REVIEW Oct 2018 PART CODE WH-1000XM3 • FULL REVIEW May 2019
Q ACOUSTICS 3010i CREATIVE Muvo 2c

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£179 • www.amzn.to/2xi4CsE £30 • www.amzn.to/2wzSxB8
Louder and more Considering it’s both
precise than the 3010, pocket-sized and dirt
these bookshelf speakers cheap, the Muvo 2c’s
are worth the money. You’ll just need to plug them into an external bass presence and sheer loudness come e
amplifier, like a hi-fi amp or AV receiver. as a pleasant surprise, and it’s water- and
d
dust-resistant as well.
SPEAKERS 4 • RMS POWER OUTPUT 125W • WEIGHT 4.1kg per speaker • NETWORKING None • SPEAKERS 1 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • DOCK CONNECTOR None • NETWORKING
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.qacoustics.co.uk • PART CODE 3010i • FULL REVIEW Bluetooth 4.2 (SBC) • DIMENSIONS 93x38x67mm • WEIGHT 159g • WARRANTY Two years RTB •
Nov 2018 DETAILS uk.creative.com • PART CODE 51MF8250AA011 • FULL REVIEW Jul 2018
NEW
UE Boom 3 BOWERS & WILKINS 607 ENTRY
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£130 • www.amzn.to/2ThounT £399 • www.weybridge-audio.co.uk
This IP67-rated Bluetooth Inspired by the classic
speaker is a comprehensive 600 series, the wired
upgrade on the Boom 2: it’s 607s deliver an exciting
more durable, looks better, has longer wireless and enthusiastic sound profile that reveals
range and sounds even better. the tiniest details in every recording.
SPEAKERS 4 • RMS POWER OUTPUT Not stated • DOCK CONNECTOR

None • NETWORKING Bluetooth (SBC) • DIMENSIONS 184x73x73mm • SPEAKERS 4 • RMS POWER OUTPUT 125W • WEIGHT 4.7kg per speaker •
WEIGHT 608g • WARRANTY Two years RTB • DETAILS www. NETWORKING None • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.bowers-wilkins.eu •
ultimateears.com • PART CODE 984-001360 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2019 PART CODE 607 • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019

Choosing an... Action camera
01 Action cameras are typically much
smaller than a regular camcorder, as
they are designed to be mounted to a bike,
Keep an eye out for 4K/30, 4K/60,
1080p/60 and 720p/120 models for the
widest possible choice of resolutions
If you want to be able to see exactly
what you’re pointing the lens at, keep an
eye out for cameras with companion
board or car, or worn on your person. As the and frame rates. smartphone apps, or wrist-mounted
name suggests, they are designed primarily viewfinders that also let you start and
for shooting action footage, but because of
their small size they are ideal for strapping 03 Most action cameras rely on flash
memory for storing your video,
stop shooting remotely.
on to your pet’s collar or your children’s toys

for a different perspective.
letting you swap out memory cards on the
fly when you fill one up with clips. More
expensive devices can have integrated
05 Action cameras typically have a huge
range of accessories, with specific
mounts and harnesses for different activities
02 Even basic action cameras will shoot

Full HD video, and many will even
shoot 4K, but frame rate is arguably more
flash memory as well as a card slot, but
it’s typically cheaper to buy the basic
version of a camera and pick up memory
and sports. If the camera itself isn’t water
resistant, a weatherproof case will protect it
from the elements, while a tripod mount will
important than resolution when it comes to cards separately. let you lock it firmly in place.
action video. Higher frame rates will mean Spare batteries are essential for longer
smoother clips, and super-high frame rate
videos can be played in slow motion to
emphasise exciting shots.
04 Not all action cameras have LCD
displays; in fact, many don’t include a
sceen in order to extend battery life.
shoots, and some decent video-editing
software will help you to produce a more
polished result.
VIDEO
AMAZON Fire TV Stick 4K DJI Osmo Pocket
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£50 • www.amzn.to/2Y6q8wh £329 • www.amzn.to/2vl53Ba
From set-top box to dangling dongle A cleverly made alternative to action
and now an ultra-compact stick, cameras, the DJI Osmo Pocket isn’t
Amazon’s 4K media streamer gets intended for extreme sports, but its
sleeker with every generation. It’s also been updated with a new mechancial stabilisation ensures smooth, great-looking
remote, which includes a microphone for Alexa voice commands. footage for life-logging videos.
VIDEO OUTPUTS HDMI 2.0 • NETWORKING 802.11ac Wi-Fi • DIMENSIONS 108x30x14mm • SENSOR 1/2.3in CMOS • SENSOR PIXELS 12 megapixels • MAXIMUM RECORDING RESOLUTION
STREAMING FORMATS UPnP, AirPlay, DLNA, Plex • INTERNET STREAMING SERVICES Amazon 4K (60fps) • AV CONNECTIONS USB Type-C • DIMENSIONS 122x37x38mm • WEIGHT 116g •
Video, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, My5 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.dji.com • PART CODE CP.ZM.00000097.01 •
www.amazon.co.uk • PART CODE Fire TV Stick 4K • FULL REVIEW May 2019 FULL REVIEW Apr 2019
NVIDIA Shield TV (2017) GOPRO Hero 7 Black

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£189 • www.johnlewis.com £319 • www.slrhut.co.uk
A good media streamer/ The Yi 4K+ is cheaper, but
Android games console hybrid made even better by a no other action camera
more comfortable controller, a wider range of comes close to the video
streaming sources and smart home integration. quality of the Hero 7 Black. That’s largely down to its new electronic
image stabilisation, which keeps footage looking unbeatably smooth.
VIDEO OUTPUTS HDMI 1.4 • NETWORKING 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 10/100/1,000 Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.1
• DIMENSIONS 159x98x26mm • STREAMING FORMATS Plex, Kodi • INTERNET STREAMING SENSOR 1/2.3in CMOS • SENSOR PIXELS 12 megapixels • MAXIMUM RECORDING RESOLUTION 4K
SERVICES Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play Movies and TV, Google Play Music, YouTube, (60fps) • AV CONNECTIONS Micro HDMI • DIMENSIONS 45x62x32mm • WEIGHT 116g •
BBC iPlayer • WARRANTY Two years repair and replace • DETAILS www.nvidia.co.uk • PART WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.gopro.com • PART CODE CHDHX-701-RW •
CODE 945-12897-2505-000 • FULL REVIEW May 2017 FULL REVIEW Feb 2019
APPLE TV 4K SAMSUNG Gear 360 (2017)

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£179 • www.apple.com/uk £140 • www.amzn.to/2wesOMX
This big update adds 4K content (including, for the Samsung’s updated 360º camera
first time, Amazon Video support). The best part is improves on the original in every way: it’s
that if there’s a 4K version of content you’ve more portable, supports live video stream,
am,
previously purchased in HD, Apple will upgrade it free of charge. and is no longer limited to Samsung Galaxy phones. Bestt
of all, it’s cheaper than the previous model was at launch.h.
VIDEO OUTPUTS HDMI 2.0a • NETWORKING 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 10/100/1,000 Ethernet •
DIMENSIONS 35x98x98mm • STREAMING FORMATS AirPlay, others via apps • SENSOR RESOLUTION Dual 8.4 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE Not disclosed • VIEWFINDER None •
INTERNET STREAMING SERVICES iTunes, Apple Music, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, LCD SCREEN 0.5in 72x32 PMOLED • DIMENSIONS 100x46x45mm • WEIGHT 130g •
Now TV, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.apple.com/uk • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.samsung.com/uk • PART CODE SM-R210NZWABTU •
PART CODE Apple TV 4K • FULL REVIEW Jan 2018 FULL REVIEW Oct 2017

Choosing a... Compact system camera
01 If you’re ready to step beyond the
basic controls of a compact camera,
or you want greater flexibility than an
Sony’s E-Mount has a slightly wider
range, but Micro Four Thirds offers the
widest variety. Both Panasonic and Olympus
budget. Most come with at least one kit
lens, but if you already have lenses for a
particular CSC mount, you can buy the body
ultra-zoom can offer, a compact system cameras use this mount, and the lenses are on its own and save money.
camera (CSC) is the next logical upgrade. interchangeable between manufacturers.
With interchangeable lenses, manual controls
and stellar image quality, these cameras give
proper digital SLRs a run for their money. 03 Micro Four Thirds cameras are
typically more compact than other
05 Once you’ve settled on a particular
mount, you should pay attention to a
camera’s features. Articulating screens and
types of CSC because the image sensor is integrated viewfinders will help you compose
02 There are three competing types of

CSC mount, and the one you buy
determines the number of compatible lenses
physically smaller – with a 22mm diagonal,
it’s roughly 30% smaller than an APS-C
sensor. The APS-C sensors that Sony and
shots, while extra physical controls and a
hotshoe mount will give you flexibility for
manual shooting.
and accessories you have available. Samsung use in their CSCs are the same size Touchscreens are great, but they’re no
Samsung’s NX-mount is arguably the most as those in traditional digital SLRs. replacement for physical dials when it comes
limited in terms of lens selection, and the to changing shutter speed and aperture. An
company has confirmed that it’s shutting
down its European camera business, so it’s
best to avoid these altogether if possible.
04 Like digital SLRs, CSCs come at a
wide range of prices. Available from
as little as £200, there’s a CSC to suit every
integrated flash is much more convenient
than a detachable one, as you can never
forget to take it with you.
PHOTOGRAPHY
SONY RX100 V FUJIFILM X-T3
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£740 • www.slrhut.co.uk £1,699 • www.amzn.to/2Fccak5
It may be small, but the RX100 A fantastically versatile
V is seriously fast, and because mirrorless camera, capable of
it also captures a surprising taking perfect stills as much as it is recording
amount of light, image and video quality are both top-notch. high-quality video. There are plenty of pro-level features, too.
SENSOR RESOLUTION 20 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE 13.2x8.8mm (1in) • FOCAL LENGTH SENSOR RESOLUTION 26.1 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE 23.5x15.6mm (APS-C) • FOCAL LENGTH
MULTIPLIER 2.7x • VIEWFINDER Electronic (2,400,000 dots) • LCD SCREEN 3in (1,228,800 dots) • MULTIPLIER 2.7x • VIEWFINDER Electronic (3.69 million dots) • LCD SCREEN 3in (1.04 million
OPTICAL ZOOM (35mm-EQUIVALENT FOCAL LENGTHS) 2.9x (24-70mm) • 35mm-EQUIVALENT dots) • VIEWFINDER MAGNIFICATION (35mm-EQUIVALENT, COVERAGE) 0.75x, 100% •
APERTURE f/4.9-7.6 • WEIGHT 298g • DIMENSIONS 60x104x41mm • WARRANTY One year RTB WEIGHT 539g • DIMENSIONS 93x133x59mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS
• DETAILS www.sony.co.uk • FULL REVIEW Apr 2017 www.fujifilm.com • FULL REVIEW May 2019
NIKON D3400 POLAROID Originals OneStep 2

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£385 • slrhut.co.uk £99 • www.amzn.to/2DQhr05
A collection of minor The OneStep 2 brings
improvements to battery life, back the simple joys of
shooting speed and stills quality
ity instant photography.
add up to make the D3400 the best entry-level DSLR available. Although the stock can get quite pricey,
your shots will look just as they would on
SENSOR RESOLUTION 24 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE 23.5x15.6mm (APS-C) • VIEWFINDER a classic Polaroid – perfect for sharing or
Optical TTL • LCD SCREEN 3in (921,000 dots) • OPTICAL ZOOM (35mm-EQUIVALENT FOCAL
simply sticking to the fridge.
LENGTHS) 3x (27-82.5mm) • 35mm-EQUIVALENT APERTURE f/5.25-8.4 • LENS MOUNT Nikon F
Mount • WEIGHT 655g • DIMENSIONS 99x124x135mm • WARRANTY One year RTB • PHOTO SIZE 3.1x3.1in • BATTERY LIFE 15-20 packets of film • PORTS 1x Micro USB •
DETAILS www.europe-nikon.com • FULL REVIEW Jun 2017 WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.polaroidoriginals.com • FULL REVIEW Jan 2018
H5
PANASONIC Lumix GH5 MC G80
PANASONIC Lumix DMC-G80
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£1,399 • www.wexphotovideo.com £699 • www.jessops.com
This update to the brilliant The G80 is ahead of the pack
GH4 can take great photos, when it comes to video quality, y,
but it’s video capture where the GH5 truly excels. Its and its stills look great as well.. It’s
4K, 60fps footage is crisp enough for serious indie filmmaking, and it more expensive than the preceding G7, but includes
ludes a
supports 10-bit recording and an optional flat colour profile as well. superior 12-60mm kit lens, among other improvements.
SENSOR RESOLUTION 20 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE 17.3x13mm • FOCAL LENGTH SENSOR RESOLUTION 16 megapixels • SENSOR SIZE 17.3x13mm • FOCAL LENGTH MULTIPLIER
MULTIPLIER 2x • VIEWFINDER Electronic (3,680,000 dots) • LCD SCREEN 3.2in (1,620,000 dots) • 2x • VIEWFINDER Electronic (2,360,000 dots) • LCD SCREEN 3in (1,040,000 dots) •
LENS MOUNT Micro Four Thirds • WEIGHT 725g (with kit lens) • DIMENSIONS 98x146x88mm • LENS MOUNT Micro Four Thirds • WEIGHT 715g with kit lens • DIMENSIONS 79x137x130mm •
WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.panasonic.com/uk • FULL REVIEW Sep 2017 WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.panasonic.com/uk • FULL REVIEW Jul 2017

Choosing a... Wearable
01 Wearable tech can include anything
from chest-strap heart-rate monitors
to augmented reality glasses, but the two
03 Fitness trackers are much more
dedicated to healthy pursuits.
Step counters, heart-rate monitors and
a single charge, so you can wear it to bed
and benefit from sleep tracking.
most common types are smartwatches and

fitness trackers. Both are designed to sit
unassumingly on your wrist, and are almost
even sleep tracking are all common, and
the data collected is fed back to you so
you can see how your workout routine
05 Look out for waterproofing as well.
Wearables that don’t mind a few
lengths of the pool can be used for
always meant to be used in tandem with a or calorie intake is going. swimming or just timekeeping, and at the
paired smartphone. Many smartwatches also contain very least we expect a fitness tracker to be
health-tracking features, but fitness- able to deal with rain or sweat.
02 Smartwatches are typically more

complex and expensive, though
more closely resemble a traditional
specific wearables tend to be cheaper,
smaller and lighter.
06 Different smartwatches use
different operating systems, which
wristwatch. You can use them to receive
and reply to text messages and emails,
quickly check maps and even play
04 When it comes to battery life, it’s
important for any wearable to
last a full day, but if it’s a smartwatch
determine which apps you can install on
your device, as well as compatibility with
smartphones. Android Wear and Tizen
games – like a smartphone, most then you can get away with having to smartwatches will work with both Android
smartwatches allow you to install your charge it overnight. With fitness trackers, and iOS phones, but Apple’s watchOS will
own choice of apps. it’s better if it lasts for several days off only pair with an iOS handset.
WEARABLES
GARMIN Vivosmart 4 APPLE Watch Series 4
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£99 • www.amzn.to/2UYdj4M £399 • www.apple.com/uk
Comfortable, accurate and not too The latest Apple Watch is
expensive, the Vivosmart 4 is a fine the sleekest and slickest
fitness tracker, albeit one without wearable the company has
onboard GPS. It’s particularly suited to those who ever made. An edge-to-edge screen and
don’t already exercise but are looking to improve haptic feedback in the crown are just two
their overall fitness. of the many enhancements.
PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes • DISPLAY SIZE 0.7in • RESOLUTION 48x128 • PEDOMETER Yes • HEART-RATE MONITOR Yes • DISPLAY SIZE 1.78in • RESOLUTION 448x368 •
OS SUPPORT Android, iOS • BATTERY LIFE Seven days • WARRANTY One year RTB • OS SUPPORT iOS • BATTERY LIFE 18 hours • WARRANTY One year RTB • DETAILS www.apple.
DETAILS www.garmin.com • PART CODE 010-01995-04 • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019 com/uk • PART CODE Apple Watch Series 4 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2019
POLAR Vantage M HUAWEI Watch 2 Sport

★★★★★ ★★★★★
£203 • www.amzn.to/2HEqMLJ £165 • www.amzn.to/2qLo7qo
A much-improved design It’s worth shelling out
sees the Vantage M for the premium version of
become a sleeker and more this sporty Android Wear
comfortable running watch than the smartwatch: it includes built-in 4G connectivity,
preceding M430, and multisport tracking which when combined with GPS tracking means you can
goes a lot deeper, too – there’s even swim tracking. safely leave your smartphone at home.
OS SUPPORT Android, iOS • BATTERY LIFE 30 hours • WARRANTY One year RTB • OS SUPPORT Android, iOS • BATTERY LIFE Two days • WARRANTY Two years RTB •
DETAILS www.polar.com • PART CODE Vantage M • FULL REVIEW May 2019 DETAILS consumer.huawei.com • PART CODE Huawei Watch 2 Sport • FULL REVIEW Jul 2017
FITBIT Versa MOBVOI TicWatch E2

E
★★★★★ ★★★★★ NEW
£179 • www.currys.co.uk £146 • www.mobvoi.com ENTRY
The Versa is a much more At this price, there’s simply
imp
imply
successful smartwatch/fitness no better smartwatch/fitnessness
tracker hybrid than Fitbit’s tracker hybrid than the
previous attempt, the Ionic: this is pleasantly TicWatch E2. Built-in GPS, IP67 waterproofing
oofing
lightweight, highly customisable and backed up p and an upgraded battery are all on board, and it’s
by an active (and competitive) community of Fitbit users. more responsive than most Wear 2100 wearables.
OS SUPPORT Android, iOS • BATTERY LIFE Four days • WARRANTY One year RTB • OS SUPPORT Android, iOS • BATTERY LIFE Two days • WARRANTY One year RTB •
DETAILS www.fitbit.com • PART CODE FB505RGPK-EU • FULL REVIEW Jul 2018 DETAILS www.mobvoi.com • PART CODE TicWatch E2 • FULL REVIEW Jun 2019

SOFTWARE
Vid sof
ADOBE Premiere Pro CC 2018 KASPERSKY Security Cloud
Sec ftwa
eo twa
so
uri re
-ed re
★★★★★ ★★★★★
ty
itin
• • www.kaspersky.co.uk
g
£20 per month www.adobe.com £50
There’s a lot to love in this update, especially the It’s just as effective as Kaspersky Total Security, but
improved support for collaborative editing and a host Security Cloud goes a step further by learning your
of new tools for producing VR-ready 360° content. bad security habits and warning you about them.
OS SUPPORT Windows 7/8/10, OS 10.11/macOS 10.12, Android 4.1 and later, iOS 10/11 •
OS SUPPORT Windows 7/8.1/10, OS X 10.11, macOS 10.12 and later • MINIMUM CPU Multicore •
MINIMUM CPU 1GHz • MINIMUM GPU None • MINIMUM RAM 1GB (32-bit), 2GB (64-bit) •
MINIMUM GPU Integrated graphics • MINIMUM RAM 8GB • HARD DISK SPACE 8GB •
HARD DISK SPACE 1,020MB (Windows), 1,110MB (Mac) • DETAILS www.kaspsersky.co.uk •
DETAILS www.adobe.com • FULL REVIEW Jun 2018
PRODUCT CODE Security Cloud • FULL REVIEW Jan 2018
pri
NORDVPN MICROSOFT Windows 10
Vir e net
vat
OS ate
tua wo
up
d
★★★★★ April 2018 Update
l rk
£9 per month • www.nordvpn.com ★★★★★
There are cheaper VPN services available, but
Free • www.microsoft.com
none has the flexibility and multi-level security Besides some subtle visual tweaks, the latest major
features of NordVPN. It’s become much faster update for Windows adds some genuinely useful
than previous versions, too. features, such as Focus Assist and Timeline.
OS SUPPORT Windows 10 • MINIMUM CPU 1GHz or faster • MINIMUM GPU DirectX 9 or later
OS SUPPORT Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, DD-WRT router • DETAILS www.nordvpn.com • with WDDM 1.0 driver • MINIMUM RAM 1GB (32-bit), 2GB (64-bit) • HARD DISK SPACE 16GB (32-
PRODUCT CODE NordVPN • FULL REVIEW Sep 2018 bit), 20GB (64-bit) • DETAILS www.microsoft.com • FULL REVIEW Aug 2018
McAFEE Internet Security 2019 APPLE macOS 10.14 Mojave

Sec ftwa
OS ate
so
uri re
up
ty
d
★★★★★ ★★★★★
£8 • www.amzn.to/2X5sQBL Free • itunes.apple.com
Impressively, the 2019 version takes McAfee Internet Mojave’s small UI improvements and minor added
Security from an industry damp squib to one of the features would disappoint on their own, but together
most reliable security suites on the market. Malware they add up to a great update. It’s free, too, so
detection is vastly improved and performance is better, too. there’s no reason not to make the switch.
OS SUPPORT Windows 7/8/8.1/10, macOS 10.12 and later; Android 4.1 and later, iOS 10 and later • OS SUPPORT OS X Mountain Lion or later • MINIMUM CPU Not stated • MINIMUM GPU
MINIMUM CPU 1GHz • MINIMUM GPU DirectX 9 • MINIMUM RAM 1GB • HARD DISK SPACE Integrated graphics • MINIMUM RAM 2GB • HARD DISK SPACE 12.5GB • DETAILS www.apple.
500MB • DETAILS www.mcafee.com • FULL REVIEW Apr 2019 com • FULL REVIEW Jan 2019
GAMING
XBOX One S OCULUS Go
4K conso
ga le
VR dset
he
★★★★★
me
★★★★★ a
s
£189 • www.amzn.to/2ylWNCV £194 • www.overclockers.co.uk

HDR support is great, No longer do you need
eed
but it’s the 4K Blu-ray player a decked-out PC or
that makes this sleeker, premium smartphone to enjoy VR. The Oculus Go
smaller Xbox One really stand out against crams all the hardware you need into the headset itself, making virtual
the competing PS4 Slim. reality entertainment as immediate and accesible as it’s ever been.
PROCESSOR Octa-core 1.75GHz Jaguar • RAM 8GB DDR3 • FRONT USB PORTS 1x USB2 • DISPLAY LCD • RESOLUTION 2,560x1,440 • REFRESH RATE 72Hz • PROCESSOR Octa-core
REAR USB PORTS 2x USB2 • STORAGE 500GB/1TB/2TB • WARRANTY One year RTB • 2.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 • RAM 3GB • WEIGHT 467g • DETAILS www.oculus.com/go •
DETAILS www.xbox.com • PART CODE Xbox One S • FULL REVIEW Dec 2016 PART CODE Go 32GB • FULL REVIEW Sep 2018
Sw d per
an
NINTENDO Labo
bo SONY PS4 Slim
itch iph
Ga nsol
me e
co
ga eral
★★★★★ ★★★★★
me s
£60 • www.very.co.uk £250 • www.argos.co.uk

Nintendo’ss Labo Sony has made the PlayStation
almost defies
fies 4 even better with a slimmer,
explanation:
on: it’s a neater chassis and superior
combination of video game, cardboard model kit and children’s power efficiency. It’s as cheap as the PS4 has
educational tool. What we ddo kknow is that it’
it’s iincredibly
edibly in
innvovative,
tive ever been as well.
rewarding and great fun.
PROCESSOR Octa-core 1.6GHz AMD Jaguar • RAM 8GB GDDR5 • FRONT USB PORTS 2x USB2 •
AVAILABLE FORMATS Nintendo Switch • DISK SPACE Not stated • DETAILS labo.nintendo.com • REAR USB PORTS None • STORAGE 500GB/1TB/2TB • WARRANTY One year RTB •
PART CODE Nintendo Labo • FULL REVIEW Aug 2018 DETAILS www.playstation.com • PART CODE B01GVQVQH2 • FULL REVIEW Jan 2017

Free software guide
It’s easy to access your free software. Just go to www.shopperdownload.co.uk/377 and
register with the code from the card insert. Please be aware that you need to have
bought the ‘Free Software Edition’ and not the ‘£4.50 Edition’ to access the downloads
GETTING STARTED
The download instructions on the card O&O SafeErase 12
Professional
insert (opposite) show you how to
connect to the download site. Make
sure you type in the web address exactly
as shown. You’ll need your coupon code
the first time you log on to the site.
WHEN YOU DELETE a file files to the pages you’ve
ANY PROBLEMS from your PC, it’s not gone visited. Edge, Chrome, Firefox
If you need help with any of the
software this month, please send an
forever: Windows simply and Opera are supported.
email to [email protected]. marks the file as deleted, There’s also a component for
We check this inbox regularly. Please which means its header is wiping insecure Windows
include the issue number of the
magazine and your coupon code.
overwritten and its space is and program files, such as
marked as available. However, temporary files and Flash
WHY DOWNLOADS
In order to provide us with free until that space is physically Player cookies.
software, publishers now require us to overwritten by other data, it As for those files you’ve
offer the applications as a download
remains retrievable. previously ‘deleted’, SafeErase
and require online registration. You
need to use the unique code printed in That’s good if you want to can finish the job by wiping all
the box on the card insert to register recover an accidentally that supposedly free space
and download the software in this
deleted file, but worrying if you want to scrub where the remnants of past files still reside. Rather
issue. The unique code means we
stop the deals leaking online, so only sensitive data completely. O&O SafeErase Professional than just wipe all the free space on your PC, however,
Shopper readers get the software. is designed to ensure the data you want deleted SafeErase will search for what it considers are unsafe
NO CODE?
really is deleted beyond the point of no return. deleted files to speed up the process. You can also
If you don’t have the card insert with the SafeErase doesn’t just erase files. It also includes securely delete entire partitions and hard disks.
unique code, you must buy the £4.99 tools for securely wiping clean all traces of your All of this raw power is wrapped up in a single,
‘Free Software’ print version of the
magazine. If you have this edition and
internet browsing, from cookies and downloaded simple-to-use user interface. Click Start analysis, and
still don’t have a card, please contact O&O SafeErase goes to work. You can then review
[email protected]. REQUIREMENTS Windows 7, 8 or 10; 100MB hard disk space its findings and clean up your PC with a single click, or
WEBSITE www.oo-software.com
opt to work with specific tools such as the SafeErase
REGISTER YOUR SOFTWARE NOTES safeerase12.disc.computershopper.co.uk
files and folders option for deleting selected files.
BY 20th JUNE 2019
WiseCleaner
Wise Hotkey
IF YOU WANT to use your computer to get tasks want to control everything from the Alt key, so all
done swiftly, the easiest way in which most the Alt-number combinations are preconfigured for
professionals save time is by assigning keyboard you. You just need to choose what you want to
shortcuts to common tasks. launch. Click on a hotkey option and you can
These can include various routines, from choose from a list of installed applications, or
opening an app or a particular folder to launching alternatively, you can choose individual files or
a website from your favourite web browser. folders to open with the selected shortcut.
Wise Hotkey is a simple tool that can be used The final option is a predefined website URL.
to set up these hotkey functions. It assumes you’ll Choose the URL you want to open from a particular
hotkey and, once selected, your
browser window will open and go
straight to the site.
That’s about it: this isn’t a
massively complex piece of software,
although that also makes it easier to
REQUIREMENTS Windows 7, 8 or 10; understand and use. Wise Hotkey
30MB hard disk space
WEBSITE www.wisecleaner.com simply aims to make using your
NOTES No need to register: serial code built computer a swifter process, and it
into the software
does a respectable job of it.

Softland Backup4all 7.4 Lite
BACKUP4ALL IS AN easy-to-use
but very capable backup tool,
which is available in three
different editions: Lite,
Standard and Professional.
The Lite edition – which is
the one you’ll get with your
free registration code – is
aimed at home users, but
still offers all the core
functionality most people
will need. You can specify
the files and folders you’d like
to back up; these can be saved
to local, external or network
drives. There are options to
compress your archives, or The 7.4 update brings lots of changes, especially if
password-protect them for security, while a you upgrade to the Professional version: this offers
simple scheduler can automatically run your features such as block level incremental backups,
backup jobs every day, week or month. and Azure and Amazon S3 support. Every edition
Restoration is just as straightforward, because benefits from the revamped, more customisable and
REQUIREMENTS Windows XP SP3, Vista, 7,
8, 10; 150MB hard disk space
your backups are just mirrors of the original files easier-to-user interface. You can now suspend, cancel
WEBSITE www.backup4all.com and folders, stored in regular Zip files. Simply open or stop all backup jobs, too. The program is able to
NOTES www.backup4all.com/ an Explorer folder and you’ll be able to find and run scheduled jobs it might have missed, and there
creativemarkb19-promo.html
recover what you need in seconds. are new tools both to test and repair your backups.
Abelssoft Undeleter 2019

UNDELETER 2019 IS a free tool away. Just point the program at Scan finds every remaining
for recovering accidentally the drive or device containing fragment of your data, but it
deleted files. Whereas O&O your lost files, optionally choose could take much longer.
SafeErase aims to permanently the file type (images, audio, Select your preferred option,
wipe data from the state of documents and so on) and click click Start, and scanning begins.
semi-deleted limbo that Next to begin. Any recoverable files are listed as
Windows places files in, Abelssoft Undeleter 2019 they’re found, so even if scanning
Undeleter’s job is to go in supports two scanning methods. the whole drive takes a while you
there and bring data back. Smart Scan is fast (it usually won’t necessarily be kept in
A clear and straightforward checks your drive in seconds), suspense as to whether a desired
interface gets you started right but may miss some files; Deep file has been located.
The final report
can be lengthy, but
fortunately there’s a
Search box to help
you drill down to
your lost files.
Once you’re
ready, manually
select one or more
target files, or press
Ctrl-A to select
them all. Then
choose your
destination folder,
and Abelssoft
Undeleter 2019
recovers the lost
files for you.
Double-click any file
to open that folder
REQUIREMENTS Windows 7, 8, 10;
in an Explorer 50MB hard disk space
window, and it’s WEBSITE www.abelssoft.net
ready for further NOTES Get your registration code within
the application
examination.

SecuPerts Anti-Spy
for Windows 10
AS CENTRAL AS Move on to the
Windows 10 is to everyday Synchronization section
PC usage, it’s not shy and you can turn off
about hoovering up your automatic synchronisation
personal information. of your data, such as your
Lots of pre-configured web browser settings,
settings within Windows browser passwords and
will readily feed that even access settings
information back to you’ve configured on a
Microsoft, as well as particular computer
its partners. (which you may not want
Anti-Spy is a small to be synchronised on
commercial tool you can other computers).
use to disable these Within the Network
settings. On a basic level, settings you can also stop
you can use Anti-Spy to automatic network search,
protect your privacy. turn off the visibility of
For example, Windows 10 your computer on your
apps will automatically network and disable
report crash and other automatic Windows 10
data to the developer, but network updates.
now you’ll be able to There are other areas,
switch this function off. including the Services
You can stop your ID from module, which enables
REQUIREMENTS Windows 10; being used for potential in-app advertising, prevent you to quickly switch off Windows Defender (which
WEBSITE engelmann.com apps from accessing your personal information Microsoft has made hard to achieve in newer
NOTES Get your registration code within from Windows, stop geolocation being available to versions of Windows 10), deactivate membership to
the application
apps by default, and much more. Microsoft SpyNet and stop error reporting.
Audials MusicTube 2019

THERE ARE COMPOSITIONS we remember from Audials MusicTube 2019 is a module for
youth or in passing that are simply too hard to find, Audials One that will enable you to find tracks
however hard we want to buy the track. This is online, stream them and, if you want, download
particularly true with rare tracks, live performances them to your computer. Of course, you’re not
from our favourite bands and similar. limited to streaming services, as Audials
More often than not, you’ll find that the track MusicTube will also bring together various
has been uploaded to YouTube by a fellow other sources, including tracks stored on your PC,
enthusiast. You can stream as often as you like, iTunes and other locations.
but what if you want to store the track locally? You can search by audio track or music video.
It’s tricky, as there’s no way of downloading Once you find the track you want, you can play it as
audio from streaming sources. you would with any other music player, add the song
to your collection
(for playback later)
or download it to
your PC. You can
even use MusicTube
to download your
favourite videos,
which will be
converted to a
format you can play
on your computer.
It’s worth
repeating that
MusicTube is a
REQUIREMENTS Windows 7, 8, 10; component of the
WEBSITE audials.com Audials One software
NOTES Register within the application suite, so you’ll need
after installation
that installed first.

Resources
Chat and Communication
Evernote 6.17.6.8292 Store your notes, UPDATED Skype for Windows 8.42.0.60 Make
ideas and plans in the cloud, and internet voice and video calls for free, and buy
synchronise them between computers. credit to make calls to mobiles and landlines.
UPDATED Mailbird 2.5.39.0 UPDATED Telegram 1.6.13 This free IM app
A free desktop email client for Windows. synchronises your conversations across
Miranda IM 0.10.80 multiple devices, and can spruce up chats
Chat with friends across multiple with stickers and GIFs.
messaging platforms, including AIM, WhatsApp Desktop 0.3.2386 A free PC and
Facebook, IRC and MSN, all from one Mac version of the popular messaging app,
simple interface. letting you chat from your desktop.
Customisation
UPDATED iolo System Mechanic Free 18.6 Windows 8 UX Pack 9.1
Speed up your system with iolo’s Get a glimpse of the Windows 10 UI without
PC optimisation suite. committing to a full OS upgrade.
UPDATED Rainmeter 4.3 Windows 10 Transformation Pack 7.0
Customise the desktop with your choice Bring some of Windows 10’s new features
of tools and shortcuts. to your current operating system.
Windows 8 Transformation Pack 9.1 NEW VERSION Winstep Xtreme 19.2
Emulate the look of Windows 8 on an Freshen up your system with this suite of
earlier version of the operating system. desktop and UI replacement applications.
General
Genie Timeline Free 2017 10.0.1.100 Screenshot Captor 4.31.2 Create and manage
Protect your most valuable files with this screenshots the easy way.
easy-to-use backup tool. UpdateScanner 2.2.0.0 Scan all the software
Paragon Partition Manager 16 Free on your PC, find out if an update is available,
Create, format, split, merge and reorganise then install it immediately.
all your hard disk’s partitions. ZipGenius 6.3.2.3116 A flexible file-
UPDATED PeaZip 6.7.1 A tremendously compression tool with support for a huge
powerful archive-management tool. number of compressed file formats.
Internet and Network

CarotDAV 1.15.5 FileZilla 3.41.1 A fast and reliable FTP client
Manage all your online storage services with lots of useful features.
with one simple application. NetBalancer 14.1.18533
Cyberduck 6.9.4 Make the most of your internet connection
A powerful but easy-to-use FTP client for by assigning download and upload priorities
uploading and downloading your files. to web applications.
Glasswire 2.1.152 UPDATED TeamViewer 14.2.2558
Keep tabs on your network usage with this Remotely control your computer from
simple monitor. anywhere in the world.
Tweaking and Performance

UPDATED CCleaner 5.56 Remove unwanted UPDATED IObit Advanced SystemCare Free
information, temporary files, browsing 12.3.0.329 A complete computer security,
history, huge log files and even the settings maintenance and optimisation suite.
that uninstalled software leaves behind. Revo Uninstaller Free 2.0.6 Remove installed
Defraggler 2.22 Ensure that your system applications completely, including all their
is defragmented properly and improve folders, system files and Registry entries.
its performance. Simple Performance Boost 1.0.5 Tweak the
Finestra Virtual Desktops 2.5.4501 Set up Windows Registry to give your PC a
four or more virtual desktops on your PC. performance boost.

GET A BETTER
SMARTPHONE
WITHSOMANYHANDSETSANDCONTRACT
DEALSTOCHOOSEFROM,ITCANBEHARD
TOWORKOUTIFYOURDEVICEISOFFERING
YOUTHEBESTPACKAGEORWHETHERTO
FOR LESS
MAKESUREYOU’REGETTINGTHE BESTDEALFROMYOUROPERATOR
WHENIT’SBETTERTOBUYYOURDEVICEOUTRIGHT
SWITCHTOADIFFERENTPROVIDEROR THEBASELINEFEATURESYOUSHOULDAIMFORINAHANDSET
PHONE.READONFOROURGUIDE 18OFTHELATESTTOPSMARTPHONESTESTEDANDCOMPARED
78
SMARTPHONES
It’s tempting to max out all the features for your smartphone
martph contract,
t but
b that won’t
give you the best value. David Ludlow helps you get the right contract at the right price
B
uying a new phone contract can be a Here, we’ll take you through all the choices and you own your handset, you can switch to
daunting prospect. Looking through help you find the right phone contract for you. PAYG and keep running your smartphone for
all the available options, you need to another year or two.
make sure that you buy one that will give PAYG OR CONTRACT? A phone contract ties you in for a set
you enough data, SMS messages and phone The first question to ask is whether you should period, typically one or two years. By doing
calls. Often, the easiest solution is to just choose pay as you go (PAYG) or opt for a this, you can get a network’s best deals,
max out everything as far as your budget contract. The answer will depend on how you including bigger data packages or unlimited
will go and hope for the best. use a phone. On the one hand, PAYG can be phone calls and text messages. Contracts tend
Throw in buying a new phone on contract, attractive, as you don’t have any lock-in period to make sense for heavier users.
and the choices vary hugely again: should you and are free to switch networks as you want. Contracts can be SIM-only, where you
put down a massive lump sum, or go for the For light users, PAYG can work out well, provide your own phone, or you can include
longer pay-off? The truth is that the right as you spend the minimum every month but the purchase of a handset in the monthly
answer varies from person to person, but top up for those times that you need extra cost. The downside of contracts is that you
lumping for the most expensive contract that data or calls. The main downside is that you can’t leave early, except under a limited set
you can afford is rarely the right idea; going need a handset to work with PAYG, which of circumstances (see ‘How to get out of a
too cheap is often a false economy, too, as invariably means buying your own. Of course, contract’, below). In most cases, leaving
you’ll end up topping up every month. once you come to the end of a contract and your contract early requires you to pay a
HOW TO GET OUT OF A CONTRACT

If you end up on the wrong mobile network but are locked into a long contract, it can be frustrating. High cancellation
fees mean many people are stuck with a company they don’t want to be with – but it doesn’t have to be that way
CANCELLING FOR FREE couldn’t get data services. If you can get own apps that let you make calls and send
If you’ve bought your handset online or over data access but it’s slow, download and use texts. These are universally awful and
the phone, then you have 14 days after Speedtest (www.speedtest.net/apps) to duplicate features available on your phone.
receiving your phone or SIM to cancel. You record how fast your connection was, but In our opinion, these apps are not a fair
may get charged for any additional services make sure you’re not on a Wi-Fi network. alternative to proper mobile coverage.
that you’ve used, or if you’ve damaged your At home, move to the area where you With both Wi-Fi calling and the mobile
handset. However, if you’re careful, the get the worst reception before calling to app, it’s fair to argue that neither is a
golden rule is, return your phone within the complain. That way, if your network runs a good alternative to a good-quality phone
14 day period if you’re not happy: poor speed test against your phone, they’ll see reception and that you should be allowed
reception won’t get fixed after that time. there’s a problem. Take your own speed to leave your contract.
Buying in-store doesn’t afford you the results using the Speedtest app. There’s a good chance that the mobile
same protection. However, many phone When you have a number of complaints, network won’t want to let you leave, so at
networks will offer you a similar returns you can then argue that you should be this point, it’s worth stating that you’ll be
policy. Check before you buy, and if you’re allowed to leave your contract early, as the making an official complaint to an
not getting at least 14 days’ protection, network is below reasonable expectations. ombudsman. There are two ombudsmen
buy online or over the phone. Some mobile networks will offer for mobile service providers, Cisas and
additional hardware to boost your signal Ombudsman Services: Communications.
DEALING WITH at home. These devices plug into your You can ask which one handles complaints
POOR SERVICE home network and boost the mobile signal, about your mobile network. In our
If you’re out of your returns period, then solving most problems. Increasingly, mobile experience, this usually gets things
you cann go
g down the complaint route if networks are forgoing additional hardware, moving quickly and results in an offer.
you suffer from poor service. The most relying on the built-in Wi-Fi calling features If the mobile provider won’t budge, you
important thing is to start making any of modern phones. can carry out your threat. The first thing to
complaints
com as early as you can. With Wi-Fi calling, your phone can use do is ask your mobile network for a letter
If you get poor reception, your internet service to make and receive of deadlock, which states that there’s no
then
the make complaints from all phone calls. This is handy for areas of poor resolution to your issue. You’ll need this
of the key areas where you reception, but given the reliability of Wi-Fi, it letter to complain to the ombudsman.
don’t
don get service. Make notes is a poor substitution for an actual 4G signal. These instructions are no guarantee of
of where and when you were Not all phones or networks support Wi-Fi escaping a contract early, but they should
when calls dropped or you calling, so many mobile providers have their help in a lot of situations.
79
⬅ Check out roaming deals has free roaming in 77 countries for anyone on
from different operators if its Red Entertainment tariffs, with a £6 charge
you often travel abroad per day for other countries. Other Vodafone
users get roaming in 48 countries (mostly in
networks. Check your the EU), otherwise it’s £6 per day. O2 gives
current phone contract to free roaming for people on its Travel Inclusive
see how much you use. Bolt-On (available on selected tariffs), and
Be very careful of data includes the US, Australia and New Zealand.
calculation sites, which Don’t go for cheap roaming above all else,
assume that you do as you should prioritise your at-home usage.
everything over your Also remember that, if you have an unlocked
mobile network, so tend handset, you can always buy a PAYG SIM –
to exaggerate how much including a local one for the country you’re
data you’ll really need. visiting – to save on roaming charges.
Realistically, you’ll use
broadband more, using your COVERAGE
home connection to Most important of all is being able to use
download music and apps, your phone in the places you most often are,
storing them for offline use. including at home. The Ofcom coverage
If you use your phone checker (checker.ofcom.org.uk/mobile-coverage)
penalty fee, and you may need to pay off the for tethering, make sure that your new gives you an idea of coverage in your home,
remainder of your phone costs. contract doesn’t have any restrictions on but doesn’t go into the finer details.
this use, or even an outright ban. OpenSignal (www.opensignal.com) has an
BALANCING ACT app for Android and iOS that uses real user
Getting the right deal means working out how ROAMING data to show you coverage in your area.
much you’ll need of everything. It’s worth If you travel abroad a lot, then look out for It also has a handy tool that shows you
going through old phone bills to work out how roaming costs. At the moment, in the EU, which direction to move in to get a signal.
much you use in a typical month, including roaming is free; post-Brexit, Three has said it Even with these tools, you may find that
voice calls, texts and SMS messages. won’t add new charges, but keep an eye out your home performs badly on some networks.
For voice calls, more expensive contracts for any changes on other networks. There are helping techniques to boost
will give you unlimited minutes, but cheaper Outside of the EU, roaming charges vary by coverage, such as Wi-Fi calling on some
ones will limit how many calls you can make network. With Three’s Go Roam, which is newer phones and networks that let you
(incoming calls are free). Make sure that you available on its Advanced Plans, you can use make and receive calls and use SMS
have enough minutes for a typical month, as your allowances in 71 countries, including the messaging over a wireless network. This is a
out-of-allowance calls are charged by the US, Australia and New Zealand. Three also great way to boost coverage in areas where
minute and can get expensive. offers the Data Pass, which costs £5 per day you wouldn’t otherwise have reception.
Typically, it’s data that’s the biggest charge, and gives you unlimited data in 89 countries. We recommend trying your mobile
as we do more online with our smartphones. EE has the Go Further add-on (£10 a month network in the places you use your phone
How much you need depends on how often for six months minimum), which gives you the most and going with the network that
you use your phone away from your your UK allowance to use in the US, Canada, gives you the best service. See ‘How to get
broadband connection or other Wi-Fi Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Vodafone out of a contract’ for more on this.
ARE FOLDABLE PHONES THE FUTURE?

E ven someone living on the moon would
have seen the deluge of foldable phones
that have been announced this year. It’s
when you need it, but the convenience of a
phone for all other times. Who wouldn’t
want that? When you’re away from home
break than a traditional phone? Tests so far
have indicated that foldable screens are not
reliable, with early models breaking.
early days yet, but are they really the future, and want to watch a film, play a game or For most of us, the biggest drawback
or should you just buy a current handset browse the internet, having a full-size is the price. The Samsung Galaxy Fold
and be done with it? We look at the options. tablet to do all of that is probably will cost somewhere around £1,500 at
something we’ve all wished for. current exchange rates (the US price is
WHAT IS A FOLDABLE PHONE? $1,980), and the Huawei Mate X is around
A foldable phone is exactly what it says. WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS? £1,970 ($2,299). Given that Samsung’s
It looks like a regular handset, but can be Adding in the fold gives these phones Galaxy S10+ costs £899, you’re paying a
unfolded to reveal a larger, more tablet-like another point of failure. According to lot more for new technology.
display. The Samsung Galaxy Fold, for Samsung, the Galaxy Fold can withstand
example, has a 4.6in screen on the outside, up to 200,000 folds, which equates to over SHOULD I WAIT?
but once opened there’s a larger 7.3in five years’ use if folded 100 times a day. Given the massive price difference and the
screen on the inside. However, these are laboratory tests, and we fact that we’re only on the first generation of
The Huawei Mate X takes a different haven’t seen phones in the wild yet. handsets, folding phones aren’t something
approach, using a single screen. When folded, The main question that remains we’d rush out and buy. While the technology
you use part of the screen, with a large unanswered is how durable are these is likely to be the future of all handsets (as
6.38in display; unfolded, you get to use the handsets when used for real. If you’re a we said, who wouldn’t want a bigger display
entire screen, which is a whopping 8in. little bit too enthusiastic when opening one, when you need it?), for today, these
In many ways, these phones are offering will a foldable phone break? What happens handsets remain an interesting technological
the best of both worlds, giving you a tablet when you drop it – is it more or less likely to development, rather than must-haves.

SMARTPHONES
WHAT ABOUT5G?
2 019 should be the year that the first 5G
services come online. Promising faster
and more reliable data connections, is it
Internet of Things (IoT) devices, from
intelligent lighting and heating systems to
smart, connected industrial machines. It
something that you should wait for, and should make it easier and faster for these to
what will you need to use it? connect both to the internet and to each
While we’ve been talking about 5G since other, potentially transforming the way
2013, the mobile telecoms industry standards conventional networks work altogether.
group – the 3GPP – only finalised the 5G The specifications are relatively vague,
standard last year. It comes in two variants: but where current 4G speeds top out at a
a non-standalone version that uses parts of theoretical 100Mbit/s, 5G speeds should
the existing LTE network, and a standalone reach a theoretical 10Gbit/s. According to
version that uses all-new components. Qualcomm, it predicts average speeds of
⬆ The Motorola Moto G7 Power (right) works Qualcomm, Huawei, Intel, Ericsson, 490Mbit/s speeds on the 3.5GHz and
out cheaper on a contract, while it’s better to buy Nokia and others have been working on the 1.4Gbit/s on the 28GHz band.
Samsung’s Galaxy S10+ (left) outright standards and hardware that support 5G, Almost as important as speed is latency.
while the world’s mobile network operators This is the time between a request being sent
EXTRA FEATURES have been working with them to test and and the response coming in. Latency isn’t a
All mobile networks have other options, which eventually roll out 5G services. huge factor in something like streaming
may be of use. Wi-Fi calling is handy if you Ofcom has auctioned bands of the radio video: once the data starts arriving, it
want to boost coverage where you don’t get spectrum for use by the big four network comes at a continuous rate, but in real-time
reception. Check if it’s supported on your operators (O2, Vodafone, Three and EE) applications such as web browsing, it can be
chosen network and phone: Three, for example, and further auctions are expected in 2019. frustrating if there’s a delay between clicking
doesn’t support Wi-Fi calling on the Google a link and a website loading. 5G is promising
Pixel 3, but does for the iPhone 5S or later. IS HUAWEI TECH SAFE? latencies as low as 1ms, which is on par with
Some mobile networks will throw in The current decision to include Chinese a good wireless broadband network.
additional sweeteners, such as a six-month company Huawei as a 5G supplier in the UK The UK’s first 5G services should roll out
Spotify subscription. Ask yourself if you is causing plenty of controversy, with the later this year, following trials that began in
really need this kind of add-on; if you don’t, prime minister seemingly ignoring her late 2018. Every major UK network operator
you may find a better deal elsewhere. security advisers’ advice. has now announced plans, with EE expected
The US and Australia have blocked to roll out its initial services first. O2 is
SHOULD YOU BUY OUTRIGHT? Huawei from working on their own running trials and aims to roll out services
Whether or not you should buy your phone networks due to security concerns, and the in 2019 to London, Belfast, Cardiff and
outright or on contract depends on how much former is urging the UK government to take Edinburgh. Three plans to start commercial
your phone costs, how much you can put down similar action. This is down to fears over deployment from the end of 2019, following
up front and often the phone itself. We’ll look at inadvertently giving the Chinese upgrades across its mobile network.
two examples. If you were to buy the Motorola government access to UK communications Vodafone began its trials in October 2018
Moto G7 Power on EE, a 24-month contract systems via Huawei’s involvement. and will launch in 2019 in 19 cities.
including 1GB of data and unlimited calls and So far, there is nothing to indicate that
texts would cost £21 a month, a total of £504. individual users should be throwing out SHOULD YOU WAIT FOR 5G?
If you bought the unlocked phone, it would their Huawei smartphones, as this is more As promising as 5G is, the technology is as
cost you £180. On EE, a pay-monthly SIM-only about state secrets than your own privacy. much about delivering high-speed data
deal with 1GB of data (the closest we could services without wires to homes and
find) and unlimited calls and texts would cost HOW FAST IS 5G? businesses as it is mobile phone users.
£14 a month, or £336. That gives a total of £516. The key thing about 5G is that it’s designed Currently, there are no major 5G handsets
Buying on contract, then, would work out better. to support a wider range of devices. It will for sale anyway, so it’s not as if you have
Conversely, in the case of a newer, high-end go beyond smartphones and tablets to much choice. Just as with 3G and 4G, the
phone such as the Samsung Galaxy S10+, it serve PCs, laptops, media devices, drones, truth is that you’re best off waiting for 5G
ends up cheaper to buy the phone outright and driverless cars and a whole bunch of networks to mature and for prices to drop.
then get a SIM-only contract. On a 1GB data
contract on EE, you have to pay £100 up front
for the phone, then £54 per month for 24 handset, insurance might be worth the cash. If accidental damage) costs £14 per month, or
months for a total of £1,396. If you bought the you’ve bought a cheaper phone outright, then £336 over the two-year contract. With the
Galaxy S10+ SIM-free, it would cost £899. Add putting aside the insurance costs could go a Motorola Moto G7 Power, the same coverage
the cost of EE’s 1GB SIM-only contract over 24 long way towards your next handset. is still £14 a month (£336) – that’s almost
months, and you’d ultimately pay £1,235. Be careful of any exceptions when taking double what the phone costs.
It’s therefore worth doing your own out insurance. Common things that policies Damage-only cover is cheaper at £10 per
research to see which option works best, as don’t include are unattended phones getting month, although over the contract life of the
one isn’t always cheaper than the other. stolen, high phone bills from calls and data G7 Power, you’ll still pay more than the phone
used on unlocked phones, and water damage. is worth. Ultimately, the price of your phone,
WHAT ABOUT PHONE INSURANCE? Look at how much the insurance will how often you’ve broken handsets in the past
Phone insurance is something that all networks cost versus the total cost of the phone. and how many devices you’ve lost or had stolen
offer. Whether it’s worth it depends on Shop around, too, as you may find insurance is likely to affect your decision. In all cases,
circumstances. If you’re paying off your phone cheaper away from your mobile network. check around to see if you can get a cheaper
monthly, or you’re particularly clumsy, it could Going back to those examples on EE, a deal elsewhere, or if you can add your phone
be worth it. Likewise, if you own an expensive Galaxy S10+ full cover policy (theft, loss and insurance on to your household insurance.

DUTY CALLS
Smartphones
2019 has already seen a flurry of new smartphones, from record-breaking
flagships to heaps of refreshed budget handsets. In this guide we’ll see how they
shape up, against each other and other great smartphones from recent months
CONTENT REVIEWS THE FIRST FEW months of the year are

always the prime time for new smartphones.
BUDGET MID-RANGE PREMIUM
Even besides the twin-pronged trade
Page 84 Page 90 Page 96 shows of CES in Las Vegas and MWC in
HUAWEI Mate 20 Lite HONOR View 20 APPLE Barcelona, both of which are used as
Page 91
iPhone XR launchpads for dozens of handsets, big
Page 85
manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei
MOTOROLA MOTOROLA Page 97
are in the habit of revealing their new wares
Moto G7 Play Moto Z3 Play GOOGLE Pixel 3
in February and March respectively.
Page 86 Page 92 Page 98 This is clearly good news if you’re in the
MOTOROLA PALM Phone HUAWEI P30 market for a new phone, as not only will you
Moto G7 Power Page 93 Page 99
have a wider range to choose from, but
you’ve got a much better chance of finding
Page 87 SONY ONEPLUS 6T
something with the most up-to-date hardware,
NOKIA 7.1 Xperia 10 Plus Page 100 features and design. At the same time, there’s
Page 88 Page 94 SAMSUNG no shortage of quality devices from 2018 that
SAMSUNG XIAOMI Mi 8 Pro Galaxy S10+ are yet to be replaced (in typical annual
Galaxy J6+ Page 95 Page 101
update fashion) – indeed, many of the newer
releases will have been crafted to compete
Page 89 XIAOMI SONY with them directly.
VODAFONE Smart X9 Pocophone F1 Xperia XZ3 With foldable smartphones some way off
being accessible and affordable for most, and

SMARTPHONES
JACK LACK Android slows down as you open more and

5G may not become the norm for some time, more apps, or games don’t run at a
but you don’t have to worry about whether comfortable, playable frame rate.
you can get the fastest current-gen data To test each phone’s muscle, we use the
connectivity, as 4G support comes on virtually freely available Geekbench 4 and GFXBench
every smartphone as standard. Dual-band Manhattan benchmarks. Geekbench gives us
802.11ac Wi-Fi is also common, with mainly an overall indication of single-core and
lower-end phones such as the Motorola Moto multicore performance, the latter being
G7 family using the slower 802.11n standard. especially useful if you keep a lot of apps
NFC support is a bit patchier. This is running at once, while GFXBench Manhattan
something we’ve come to expect on higher- shows how well the phone would run a
end phones in particular, although it’s also graphically intensive 3D game. It provides an
not a no-brainer feature like 4G and Wi-Fi. onscreen result, which takes into account the
You should therefore check the specs if you native display resolution, and an offscreen
know you’ll want to make contactless result, which assumes a 1,920x1,080
payments with your smartphone, which is resolution, giving us a figure to compare GPU
one of NFC’s most common uses. capability with other devices, even if they
Elsewhere on the connectivity front, it’s have a different resolution.
preferable to have a USB Type-C port over
Micro USB, as the former can both recharge WHAT THE CELL
and transfer data faster than the latter. Our battery testing, meanwhile, is the same as
Internal storage capacity can vary wildly (more in our laptop-testing regimen. We measure
on this later), but it’s also helpful to have how long a smartphone can continuously loop
removable microSD card compatibility, as this a full-screen video with flight mode engaged
can massively increase available storage space. and brightness set to 170cd/m2. Any phone
Unfortunately, 3.5mm headphone jacks are that lasts at least 10 hours should get through
rarer than ever. Many manufacturers cite a full day of normal, everyday use, but you
superior waterproofing as a reason to get rid should ideally aim for more. Many phones get
of them, and this can be a benefit should your to almost double that, and the longest-lasting
phone ever fall in a puddle or a bath, but if handset covered here – Motorola’s Moto G7
5G only slated for a very partial rollout in 2019 you’ve got wired headphones then you’ll either Power – lasted an astonishing 26h 22m.
at the earliest, don’t worry about holding off need to make use of a USB port adaptor
on a new smartphone. Simply read on for our (often this is bundled in with the phone) or GET THE PICTURE
buying guide, as well as our reviews of the 18 replace them with Bluetooth headphones. Some smartphones focus more on their
top devices available now. With the latest camera setup than anything else. This
low-cost, mid-range and premium handsets PLAYBACK IN ACTION approach can have some fabulous results –
tested and ranked, there will surely be one Back on the subject of displays, the good thing Google and Huawei in particular produce
that’s right for you, whatever your budget. about them becoming bigger on average – 6in some excellent photography technology –
diagonally would have been considered though approaches typically vary. Some, like
SLIMMING LESSONS preposterously vast a few years ago, now it’s a the Google Pixel 3, only have a single rear lens.
Smartphone designers have the unenviable very common size – is that phones in general Others adopt dual-lens or even triple-lens
job of making a device that’s all things to all have become better for reading long articles cameras, the idea being that each lens can be
people. A good phone should be thin and light, and watching films and TV. dedicated to a distinct function, such as
to make it easier to fit in pockets and sit However, larger screens also require higher optical zoom or depth of field effects, and
comfortably in the hand, but it also needs to resolutions to keep them looking sharp. can thus result in better pictures when the
be tough and robust, capable of surviving Unless you’re on a tight budget, you should images from each lens are combined.
knocks, drops and scratches. therefore try to stay above 1080p, and Frankly, however, it’s not the case that
How well a phone achieves these ideals will potentially even above 1440p for top-tier more lenses are always better, just as higher
often depend on how much it costs. Pay more models. Exact resolutions will differ a lot, as megapixel counts don’t necessarily make for
and you’re more likely to get a slimmer the standard 16:9 aspect ratio isn’t so standard superior images. That’s why we take a variety
handset that’s made with tougher, damage- these days, either. Taller 18:9 screens are now of test shots with each phone, and discuss
resistant materials such as aluminium, whereas commonplace, for instance, and benefit from a how well each camera setup works in their
cheaper phones might favour plastic. This isn’t better shape for dual-app multitasking. respective reviews.
a hard rule, however: metal unibodies are There are also all the usual quality aspects
increasingly common on mid-range and to consider with a phone display: vibrancy, ON THE UPSIZE
entry-level smartphones, and many high-end contrast, brightness and so on. We’ve run our With storage, on the other hand, more is
models opt for glass backplates. This can usual display benchmarks on all of the tested always better. An onboard capacity of 32GB is
provide a more plush look and feel, but you’ll handsets to see how they compare. the least you should settle for unless you’re
have to be more careful about dropping it paying absolute pennies, although it’s possible
than you would with a metal chassis. TASK MANAGER to get 64GB for less than £200.
While smartphones have become thinner Processing performance might not seem as In the middle and at the top, onboard
over the years, they’ve also become taller important on a smartphone as it would be on, storage can stretch all the way up to 256GB,
and wider, thanks to a trend towards larger say, a desktop PC, but each handset’s SoC although 128GB is more than enough for
displays. This is partly compensated for by (system on a chip – a combination of CPU, most users. If you’re worried about running
the thinning of bezels, to the point that even GPU and RAM) has a very direct effect on how out of space, look for a phone with microSD
budget handsets can offer almost borderless quickly and responsively the device runs, so card support: besides adding capacity for
designs, but if you’re used to using something it’s worth making sure you’re not getting a relatively little cash, using removable storage
with less than 5in of screen space, there might dud. Too little power, and you might find that also makes it easy to transfer files and
be some adjusting to do. web pages stutter as you scroll through them, contacts between phones.

BUDGET SMARTPHONES
HUAWEI Mate 20 Lite

★★★★★
£250 • From www.carphonewarehouse.com
VERDICT
The Mate 20 Lite is a respectable all-rounder,
with cuts mostly in the right places
WE’VE OFTEN EXTOLLED the virtues down with regards to softness, losing
of saving big money by buying previous- what software we some edge detail in a
generation (but still good) smartphones. could download smeary sheen. It’s
The Huawei Mate 20 Lite, however, makes from the Google still a very good
for an even better deal: it’s only a few Play Store, which camera setup for the
months old, but has already plummeted meant we couldn’t price, although if you
from its £380 launch price to just £250. see how Huawei’s specifically want
That’s incredibly tempting, as the Mate 2.2GHz octa-core great photography
20 Lite’s status as a stripped-back Mate 20 Kirin 710 chip stands on a budget, the
gives it a sleek look and some features you up to its Qualcomm Moto G7 Power is
don’t really see on others phones this cheap. equivalents. However, just as effective and
Unlocking via facial recognition is one: there’s anecdotally, it’s fine: costs even less.
a fingerprint sensor on the rear as well, but the Mate 20 Lite There are also
unlocking by simply looking at the front makes short work some niggles with
camera works well. of day-to-day the camera’s
Despite containing a large 6.3in screen, the Android tasks and optional features.
Mate 20 Lite’s 19.5:9 aspect ratio and 7.5mm has no issues with One is, awkwardly,
thickness make sure it still feels nicely slight. multitasking either. the top-billed AI
This focus on thinness has compromised the In fact, unlike most feature, which can
camera housings, however – they’re left to Android phones, it tell what you’re
poke outwards from the back, and the edges can show three shooting (be it a cat
are sharp enough that they might scratch apps onscreen at or a landscape
delicate surfaces if you’re not careful. once, not just two. scene) and tag it
There’s no wireless charging, nor any Performance in accordingly. This
officially rated dust or water resistance. On games is good, too. Again, we couldn’t run sounds cool and is impressively accurate in
the bright side, you can expand the built-in GFXBench, but instead tried playing the its labelling, but it’s the next part that’s
64GB of RAM by an extra 256GB if you relatively intensive Real Racing 3 and PUBG bothersome, as it automatically adjusts
splash out on a microSD card, and a 3.5mm Mobile, and both ran well. It defaulted to settings to take what it thinks will be the best
headphone jack is included on the bottom medium graphics settings in the latter, but shot it can muster. The results of this just
edge, next to the USB Type-C port. manually pushing things up to the high tend to make photos look oversaturated.
graphical setting in PUBG was still playable. There are other little issues, too: toggling
MATERIAL CHANGES However, the Mate 20 Lite’s performance HDR mode, for example, is done on most
One of the main differences between this and in our battery life test – which we could phones by flicking a virtual switch on your
the high-end Mate 20 is the display: here, it’s actually install – was middling, with a final main camera screen. Not here: it’s hidden
a simple LCD panel, not OLED. This typically time of 11h 22m. That’s not terrible, but away as a whole separate mode along with
means lower contrast ratios and blacks that we’ve seen Huawei phones do a lot better. panoramas, filters and timelapse. Such a vital
don’t look quite as deep tool in the photography arsenal shouldn’t be
and inky, but it’s not SEEING DOUBLE ditched here like an afterthought.
bad overall. The Mate Unsurprisingly, the Video recording is another area that
20 Lite’s display Mate 20 Lite’s rear indicates the new Kirin 710 processor may not
manages a respectable camera (which, as on be all that hot. While you can record at 1080p
88.9% sRGB gamut the front, is arranged at 60fps, you’ll have to drop the frame rate or
coverage, while offering in a dual-lens setup) the resolution if you want to use stabilisation.
a sharp 1,279:1 contrast isn’t quite as good That’s an unfortunate payoff to have to make.
ratio. Peak brightness is the P20 Pro’s, but it’s We also found that, while recording video, the
a little disappointing for an impressive system Mate 20 Lite struggled to focus a lot of the
LCD at only 405cd/m2, in its own right. In time, leading to often blurry footage. Even
but you should still favourable lighting, when it did lock on, it would distractingly hunt
find it perfectly usable the composition, detail back and forth before doing so.
in all but the brightest and colour capture
sunshine. The display’s are all excellent. CHEAPER AGENT
resolution comes in at It’s a similar story This lack of polish holds the Mate 20 Lite
2,340x1,080, so it’s also in tricky low-light back from Recommended award status,
visibly sharper than, conditions, with far less although we’d be reluctant to grant that
say, the Motorola chroma noise than most honour without full benchmark results
Moto G7 Power. smartphone cameras anyway. There’s a lot to like here, and at a
Annoyingly, the when zoomed in. newly affordable price. If you want something
handset Huawei Unfortunately, it also a bit smarter and sharper than the Moto G7
provided us was locked adds a little too much Power, the Mate 20 Lite could prove suitable.

BUDGET SMARTPHONES
MOTOROLA Moto G7 Play

★★★★★
VERDICT
The cheapest Moto G7 variant is also the least
powerful, but it’s still a likeable budget handset
OF ALL THE new 7th-gen Moto handsets palette, apart from better choice. This
launched this year – the Moto G7, the Moto slightly oversaturated lightweight version
G7 Power, the Moto G7 Play and the Moto G7 red, green and purple of Google’s OS is
Plus – the Moto G7 Play is arguably the least tones. The Moto G7 designed specifically
interesting. It’s not the ‘main’ Moto G7, and it Play is also capable for low-power
doesn’t have standout hardware like the of reaching a smartphones, and
Moto G7 Power’s massive battery or the sunlight-friendly uses smaller, lighter
Moto G7 Plus’s upgraded processor. peak brightness versions of core apps
What, then, does the Moto G7 Play have of 465cd/m2. to boost performance.
to offer? For one thing, it’s the cheapest, There are three There is one area
coming in at a wallet-friendly £150, and it colour modes to where the Moto G7
achieves this without losing out on hardware choose from – Play performs well,
all that much. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 Boosted, Saturated and that’s battery
processor, chiefly, is both a major upgrade on and Natural – life. The G7 Play
last year’s Moto G6 Play and the same chip although strangely lasted for a total of
found in the Moto G7 and Moto G7 Power. It’s they all delivered 20h 19m in our video
also got a large 5.7in display, although there is identical results in rundown test, which
one drawback compared to its Motorola testing. It’s unclear equates to a 29%
stablemates: it only has 2GB of RAM. whether this is a bug improvement over
The phone itself is constructed almost or an oversight from the Moto G6 Play.
entirely from plastic, it weighs 149g, and is Motorola, but what As for more recent
available in either Deep Indigo or Fine Gold you see is what you competition, the only
finishes. There’s a rear-mounted fingerprint get with this phone’s screen. handset that does significantly better is its
reader on the back, which sits just beneath As mentioned, powering the Moto G7 Play own brother, the Moto G7 Power.
the camera housing and single LED unit, and (as well as the Moto G7 Power variant and Rather than following the dual-camera
the 3,000mAh battery is topped up via a USB regular Moto G7), is Qualcomm’s latest trend, the rear of the Moto G7 Play
Type-C connection at the bottom. budget chipset, the Snapdragon 632 incorporates a single 13-megapixel camera
processor. This 14nm architecture chip is unit, complete with a rather-narrow f/2.0
SINGLED OUT clocked at 1.8GHz and improves on the Moto aperture. That might not sound very
There are a few issues with the design, G6 Play’s performance by up to 78%, impressive, but the camera at least benefits
however. While the lack of IP-rated dust or according to Geekbench 4’s single- and from phase-detection autofocus for super-
waterproofing is tolerable for a phone this multicore CPU tests. In these, the Moto G7 snappy captures, and is capable of shooting
cheap, what’s less excusable is that the G7 Play scored 1,199 and 4,265 respectively. 30fps footage at a maximum Full HD
Play doesn’t have NFC support. This means resolution. An 8-megapixel f/2.2 selfie
you won’t be able to use your phone for SHORT MEMORY camera sits on the front of the phone.
contactless payments. This clearly represents a significant bump in The quality of the images is actually rather
It also doesn’t support dual-band Wi-Fi, performance over last year’s phone, but the impressive. Placed side by side with pictures
and can only connect to measly 2GB of RAM captured on last year’s Moto G6, the quality is
the 2.4GHz bandwidth. inside the Moto G7 Play just as good: there’s plenty of detail, the
This is far from ideal, and is still a major hindrance. colour palette is nice and neutral, and the
you’ll likely suffer from This year’s budget HDR mode does an effective job at lifting up
congestion and sluggish smartphone doesn’t dark, shadowy areas of an image.
download speeds when feel quite as rapid in
connecting to public operation, and slows GONE DARK
Wi-Fi networks. down noticeably when It’s not quite the same story when used indoors
The screen is better. juggling multiple in low-light conditions, however. There simply
It only has a standard operations. It’s also less isn’t the same level of detail in pictures
HD resolution of suited for graphically snapped with the Moto G7 Play’s camera, and
1,512x720, and there’s a intensive games, judging the resulting image is filled with visual noise.
chunky notch at the top by its GFXBench That said, the actual outcome is still rather
for the camera along Manhattan scores of good by budget standards; lesser low-cost
with some noticeable 20fps in the onscreen smartphones will almost invariably fare worse.
bezels, but it’s still a test and 10fps in the Ultimately the Moto G7 Power is a slightly
rather good-looking offscreen test. better buy, as its 4GB of RAM ensures more
budget display. We While it’s nice to have reliable multitasking performance, and the
measured a high the latest Android 9.0 superior camera and battery life don’t hurt
contrast of 1,724:1, and version installed, we either. If, however, you’re determined to
colour reproduction wonder if Android Go spend as little as possible, the Moto G7 Play
looks decent across the would have been a is a sensible alternative.
85
BUDGET SMARTPHONES
MOTOROLA Moto G7 Power

★★★★★
VERDICT
Cheaper than the Moto G7 and packing superlative battery life,
the Moto G7 Power is the new budget phone to beat
OF THE FOUR new Moto smartphones, 481cd/m2 brightness of the other Moto G7
the Moto G7 Power sits around the lower- and a contrast ratio variants even come
middle in both specs and price. of 823:1. The Moto G7 particularly close.
It has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon Play achieves a higher Finally, we come to
632 processor as the standard Moto G7 contrast, but has the camera, another
and the Moto G7 Play, but importantly has lower brightness. key point of difference
more RAM (4GB) than the Moto G7 Play Performance, on between the Moto G7
and its 2GB of memory, not to mention a the other hand, is and the Moto G7
larger 6.2in display. more or less identical Power. While the
However, this screen has a lower to the Moto G7, Moto G7 Power has a
resolution (1,520x720) than the Full HD something to be single 12-megapixel
Moto G7. Where the Moto G7 Power expected with both camera with an f/2.0
stands out, however, is its battery: it’s a handsets having the aperture, the G7 has
massive 5,000mAh unit, dwarfing even the same CPU and RAM. a brighter f/1.8
Moto G7 Plus’s 3,500mAh battery. Likewise, it slips in aperture and a
just ahead of the second, 5-megapixel
BIG BROTHERS Moto G7 Play, depth-sensor lens for
Despite all these internal differences, the thanks to having arty shots with
Moto G7 Plus looks virtually identical to the double the amount blurred backgrounds.
Moto G7, and that’s no bad thing: both of RAM. Specifically, On paper, that
phones give the passing impression of costing the Moto G7 Power gives the Moto G7
at least twice what they actually do, with 6.2in scored 1,258 in two clear advantages.
displays that adopt a long 19:9 aspect ratio. Geekbench 4’s single-core test and 4,540 in In practice, the pictures these two phones
The polycarbonate backplate is the most the multicore test, which also happens to be produce are only barely distinguishable,
noticeable hint that this is a budget device, just a tiny bit behind the most expensive and certainly don’t represent £60’s worth
but it is joined by a fingerprint reader. Moto G7 Plus and its Snapdragon 636. of difference. Moto G6 owners will be
There’s also a microSD slot and a 3.5mm unsurprised to learn that both snappers
headphone jack, making the Moto G7 Power STAYING POWER are extremely good for the money, and while
even more convenient. Another win for the Moto G7 Power comes the standard Moto G7 shoots better photos
Stretching a standard HD resolution over the Galaxy J6+, which only managed 644 on the whole, the G7 Power isn’t far behind
over 6.2 inches may sound ill-advised, but in the single-core test and ,1,815 in the considering the price difference.
the Moto G7 Power’s display isn’t a bad multicore test – a particularly hard drubbing The narrower aperture doesn’t make a
performer for the in the latter’s case. great deal of difference, either. In our low-light
price. Colours are The Moto G7 Power test shots, there’s very little in it, with the
bright and punchy, and is much better for Moto G7’s shots looking only slightly brighter.
things look decidedly games, too, even if it
crisp even with the can’t quite handle SHOT DOWN
drop below Full HD. the toughest 3D titles. The one area where the Moto G7 does have a
Because it’s IPS Its GFXBench clear advantage is video. While the Moto G7
technology, contrast Manhattan onscreen Power is limited to 1080p footage at 30fps,
isn’t perfect, coming and offscreen results, the Moto G7 can capture 4K video with the
in at a decent but of 20fps and 18fps same 30fps speed. This is puzzling: there’s
uninspiring 914:1. respectively, easily no technical reason why this should be the
It reaches a high trounce those of the case as they both have the same processor.
peak brightness of Galaxy J6+. Both of It’s possible that Motorola wanted to hold
506.9cd/m2, however, these phones have back a premium feature to justify the price
and covers 90% of the 720p resolutions, so hike, but if 4K footage is important to you,
sRGB colour gamut in the difference is then the Moto G7 has the edge.
the most accurate entirely down to We’re used to the main Moto G model
Boosted mode. There processing power. being a budget champion, but this time it’s
are better screens in The Moto G7 one of the cheaper versions that steals the
this price bracket, but Power is without show. The Moto G7 Power may have a
there are much worse equal on battery life. lower-resolution screen, a (slightly) weaker
ones as well, such as Lasting an incredible camera setup and video recording limited
that of the Samsung 26h 22m, only the to 1080p, but the 66% bigger battery is
Galaxy J6+, and it is discontinued Lenovo certainly hard to argue with, and you’re
actually slightly better P2 has gone on for getting the same general performance for
than the Moto G7, longer, and neither £60 less. Even compared to the cheaper
which only reached the Galaxy J6+ nor any Moto G7 Play, the Moto G7 Power is a steal.

BUDGET SMARTPHONES
NOKIA 7.1
★★★★★
VERDICT
It’s nicely designed and has a great camera,
but otherwise this is an uninspired handset
LIKE THE HUAWEI Mate 20 Lite, this is The Nokia 7.1’s a hit to both battery
another smartphone that’s quickly shed a chip, a Qualcomm life and onscreen
mid-range price to become much more Snapdragon 636, is a gaming performance,
affordable. At £189, it’s only slightly more step up from the but then there are
expensive than the Motorola Moto G7 Power, Snapdragon 632 used devices with many
and the same price as the Samsung Galaxy by Motorola’s Moto more pixels to push
J6+, but since it launched late in 2018 at £299, G7 Play and Moto G7 that can keep going
you can expect a somewhat more plush Power. As a matter of for far longer, so it’s
design and more potent internals. fact, it’s the same most likely an
Indeed, even for its original price, the chip that powers undersized battery
Nokia 7.1 looks lovely. As with the rest of the mid-range that’s to blame.
Nokia’s recent phones, it’s crafted from a Moto Z3 Play, and As for the Nokia
single piece of aluminium, with attractive as such performs 7.1’s photographic
chamfered edges that also make it sit snugly just about identically capabilities, it features
in the hand. It’s also well equipped for in most tasks a dual-camera
connectivity, with both USB Type-C and and benchmarks. arrangement on the
3.5mm audio ports, a combined nano-SIM and Nokia’s handset rear: one is a regular
microSD card tray, and Bluetooth 5.0 support. scored 1,344 in 12-megapixel
Conversely, the single speaker on the Geekbench 4’s wide-angle sensor,
bottom edge is a bit of a let-down. Of course, single-core test and while the other is a
phone audio is never going to be the last 4,906 in its multicore 5-megapixel depth-
word in hi-fi, but the Nokia 7.1’s output feels test, both of which sensing lens for
particularly limited and sounds rather flat are within 23 points of the Moto Z3 Play. bokeh-effect portrait shots. On the front is
across a range of genres. However, while that represents a somewhat an 8-megapixel selfie snapper.
mediocre showing for a £380 handset like the Outdoors and in good light, the Nokia’s
STREAM POWERED Moto Z3 Play, the Nokia 7.1’s price drop makes camera performance is rather good. In these
Front and centre is the 5.8in, 2,244x1,080 IPS it one of the more powerful smartphones you conditions, our test shots were bursting with
display, complete with a rather chunky bezel can buy for less than £200. Perhaps Nokia crisp details, and colours were both neutral
underneath and a narrow iPhone XS-like realised that this phone couldn’t compete and accurate. The HDR mode also worked
notch digging into the top of the screen. with more powerful mid-range phones, very well, equalising bright and dark areas
It’s capable of handling HDR content, with such as the Xiaomi Pocophone F1, and effectively without making everything look
support for YouTube, Amazon Prime Video slashed the 7.1’s price so that it would unnaturally candy-coloured.
and Netflix. attract more favourable comparisons. In low light, the Nokia 7.1 achieves the
Rest assured, this is perfect balance of grain to noise suppression,
a high-quality screen, GAME OF PHONES with the camera retaining an impressive
especially for the price. It’s certainly true that amount of detail and colour. This camera
We found it covered gaming performance holds up to the quality of the Moto G7
99.4% of the sRGB has more in common Power’s, and that’s saying something.
colour gamut, with with cheaper handsets
lovely-looking colours than the best AIM LOWER
across the entire mid-rangers; the Nokia We initially thought of the 7.1 as a dull
palette. The screen 7.1 managed only 15fps smartphone; a competent one, sure, but one
resolution translates to in the GFXBench that offered little compelling reason to buy
a dot pitch of 432ppi, Manhattan 3 onscreen when there were so many better mid-range
and everything from test, plus 16fps in the phones. The situation has changed now that it
text to images looks offscreen test. costs a more agreeable £189, and there’s no
pin-sharp as a result. Battery life is denying how hard it is to find an all-metal
Brightness isn’t too similarly humdrum, as smartphone with a great camera at this price.
shabby, either. We the Nokia 7.1 lasted Nonetheless, we still wouldn’t count it
measured a maximum only 10h 11m in our among the very best budget smartphones.
of 524cd/m2, which is video rundown test. It’s relatively powerful, and that rear camera
fine for outdoor use, It’s not an awful result, does some good work, but battery life
though you may have but the Moto G7 underwhelms and gaming performance
to squint on the Power embarrasses it doesn’t stand up as well as more general CPU
sunniest of days. A by lasting more than performance. We prefer the Moto G7 Power:
polarised coating helps twice as long. It could despite a lower screen resolution, it’s a more
cut down on glare, as be argued that the 7.1’s exciting device than the Nokia 7.1, with
does the high contrast higher-resolution competitive performance, a similarly capable
ratio of 1,373:1. display is worth taking rear camera and the best battery life around.
87
BUDGET SMARTPHONES
SAMSUNG Galaxy J6+

★★★★★
VERDICT
A serviceable budget phone, but below-
average performance hurts it
SAMSUNG’S GALAXY RANGE isn’t entirely running two apps at you can’t remove
composed of its premium S-series handsets. once is likely to feel Samsung’s own
The Galaxy J6+ is still recognisably related to sluggish, and you’re preinstalled
those high-end models, but squeezes the also unlikely to be applications. Even if
price to £190. running the best- you choose to use
Understandably, this has meant cutbacks. looking games at their Google’s apps, you’re
For instance, while the J6+ has a familiar top graphical level. stuck with Samsung’s
Galaxy shape, there are none of the fancy The GFXBench inferior calendar, web
curved edges that have been a Galaxy S Manhattan 3 onscreen browser and gallery
mainstay for years now. test returned an apps taking up space
Still, it’s a fairly modern design. There’s no average frame rate of on your phone as well.
physical home button, and the fingerprint only 6fps, as well as At the rear of the
reader takes up a new residence on the side just 3fps in the Galaxy J6+ is a
of the phone. It’s a very comfortable way to offscreen test. 13-megapixel camera,
unlock the phone – as long as it’s already in The best thing plus a separate
your hand, and not down on a table. about the Galaxy J6+’s five-megapixel depth
hardware is its sensor, which can be
MICRO MANAGEMENT stamina. It managed to used for adding
As has proven common with budget phones, last 17h 50m in our artistic bokeh effects
there’s no IP-rated dust or waterproofing, but continuous video to your shots. It’s
that’s a small quibble compared to the lack of playback test, which impressive to see a
USB Type-C. Instead, Samsung has included a might not be on a par dual-sensor array on
Micro USB port, so you can’t take advantage with the Moto G7 Power but is still an a phone at this price: it wasn’t so long ago
of faster charging or data transfers. excellent display of battery longevity. You that such things were the preserve of
The screen is huge, at 6in diagonally, should easily be able to cruise through the handsets costing three times as much.
though this is another 720p device: 1,480x720, day without worrying about having to top up, In good light, it does an excellent job.
to be exact. That means it’s far from the which considering you’d be doing so over Pictures come out with plenty of detail,
sharpest display, and with sRGB gamut Micro USB is definitely a good thing. colour reproduction looks top-notch, and the
coverage of 83%, it could be more vivid as HDR mode effectively fills in shadowy areas.
well. However, with a good contrast ratio of SKIN TIGHT Even notoriously tricky objects such as tree
1,109:1 and a maximum brightness of The Galaxy J6+ runs Android 8.0, rather foliage, building brickwork and wispy cloud
493cd/m2, this display has its upsides too. than the newer 9.0 version, but Samsung’s layers are captured well.
The J6+’s big screen is also ideal for custom skin is generally clean and close We like the ‘live focus’ camera setting, too,
multitasking, although making the most of enough to stock Android. It isn’t quite as which allows you to use an onscreen slider to
this usually requires a powerful CPU – and slick as Google’s own launcher, and some adjust the degree of background blur before
that’s something this smartphone sorely of the app icons look a bit child-like, but capturing your image. It’s easy and intuitive to
lacks. Rather than using the experience feels use, and the results look great.
one of its own Exynos responsive and snappy. As the light dims, however, the Galaxy J6+
chips, Samsung has One feature that struggles, with noise and compression
opted to power the J6+ Samsung seems artefacts marring our low-light test scene.
with Qualcomm’s ageing particularly pleased with
Snapdragon 425 chipset, is the Dual Messenger NONPLUSSED
dating back to 2016 and option, which lets you The Galaxy J6+ makes a good first impression,
clocked at just 1.4GHz. add multiple accounts but after using it for a while we became a tad
As a result, the to your ‘favourite disappointed. It’s decent enough: the screen is
Galaxy J6+ is distinctly messenger apps’. This fine, the camera takes nice shots and there’s
behind the curve on means your personal enough power here to run Android smoothly,
performance. Its message threads are as long as you keep your expectations
Geekbench 4 scores, of kept separate from realistic and your operations basic.
664 in the single-core your professional ones. However, Samsung’s J-series phones once
test and 1,814 in the It’s pretty convenient rivalled the absolute best of Motorola’s, and
multicore test, make this if you’re ever nervous this particular handset simply isn’t strong
clear: the Nokia 7.1 and about accidently enough to carry on that tradition. The Moto
entire Moto G7 family sending an G7 range shows that it’s possible to create a
roll over it in both tests. inappropriate message truly desirable phone (several, in fact) on the
Navigating the to the wrong recipient. cheap; here it just feels as if Samsung has
menus and playing The only annoying failed to find the magic ingredient, resulting
around with apps is thing about Samsung’s in a phone that’s not awful for the price, but
smooth enough. But OS modifications is that not an irresistible bargain either.

BUDGET SMARTPHONES
VODAFONE Smart X9
★★★★★
£99 • From shop.vodafone.co.uk
VERDICT
The Smart X9 is the best kind of budget phone: dirt-
cheap yet more capable than the price suggests
WHILE THE IDENTITY of Vodafone’s 762 in the Geekbench rarity, so Vodafone

hardware manufacturer partners remains a 4 single-core test deserves credit for
mystery, it’s a partnership that’s produced and 3,858 in the managing to achieve
some marvellous budget phones, such as the multitasking test. that here. It’s a
Vodafone Smart N8 (Shopper 356). The latest It beats the Galaxy 16-megapixel primary
Smart X9 costs a few pounds more, but it still J6+, however, so camera with an f/2
provides a great entry-level option. despite being the aperture supported
It says a lot about how smartphone design cheapest smartphone by a 5-megapixel
has progressed that the Smart X9 could here, it’s not the secondary camera
feasibly pass for a recent flagship. A 5.7in, weakest. The same for adding depth
18:9 display is encased in thin bezels, with no goes for gaming to your shots.
ungainly notch in sight, and the rear side is performance, too: The results aren’t
pleasingly minimalist. The dual-camera array averaging 9fps in amazing, but they’re
is neatly contained in the top left-hand corner, both the onscreen an awful lot better
and the circular fingerprint reader sits near and offscreen than you might
the top in the middle. A Vodafone logo is portions of GFXBench expect for the price.
barely visible near the bottom. Manhattan, the Smart Our test shots
X9 can’t top the Moto managed to pack in
PUT IN PRINT G7 Power (which, it an impressive degree
This is, however, the first indicator that you’re should be noted, has of detail, to the point
not dealing with an expensive model. Not only a lower resolution), where the Smart X9
is the back panel a magnet for fingerprints, but it beats the could even match the
but it’s quite clearly plastic, not glass or metal. Galaxy J6+ quite handily. It’s still not powerful Moto G7 Power in certain conditions.
This is a fair cop for £99, and plastic does help enough to run the toughest games on high In low light, it even managed to surpass
keep the weight down compared to more or probably even medium settings, but more Motorola’s handset by capturing more detail
premium materials, but we wish Vodafone had basic 2D titles will run fine. when zoomed in; by comparison, the Moto G7
done something about the smudging issue. Power’s pictures came out a bit softer.
A microSD card slot is available to beef up BEARER OF AD NEWS You can’t have everything, however, and
the limited 32GB of internal storage space, It helps that the Smart X9 is practically the front-facing camera shows significantly
and there’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack on bloatware-free. There are just three bundled greater weakness than that of the Moto G7
the top edge, which is always welcome. Vodafone apps when you first switch it on: Power. What you have here from the
The 2,160x1,080 IPS display is surprisingly Start, Tips and My Vodafone (the last of 8-megapixel front-facing camera is shots
nice as well. Not only does it have a sharper which was amusingly trying to sell us the that lack depth and are thoroughly
resolution than the Moto G7 Play, Moto G7 Samsung Galaxy S10 on the homescreen, just overprocessed, especially if you crank up
Power and Samsung Galaxy J6+, but it in case you feel like trading in your new the ‘beauty’ settings.
outdoes them all on colour performance, handset for a phone that’s seven times more Video footage could also be better. The
covering 99% of the expensive). Regardless, Smart X9 can only record at a maximum
sRGB gamut. Such navigation feels snappy 1080p resolution at 30fps, and there’s no
vibrancy is aided by a enough, but you will stabilisation to speak of, so videos tend to
high 1,436:1 contrast notice some slowdown look unappealing shaky.
ratio, and the peak compared to more
455cd/m2 brightness expensive handsets. THE SMART CHOICE
isn’t half bad either. Battery life is fine, Even with these odd flaws, the Smart X9
Processing power is if unspectacular repeatedly punches well above its
where the Smart X9’s compared to some of featherweight pricing. You’re getting far
ultra-budget nature is the other smartphones more here than any previous £100-ish
most apparent. on test here. The Smart smartphone has offered, from the capable
Internally, it’s equipped X9 has a 3,100mAh rear camera to the Full HD display.
with a Qualcomm battery, which kept If at all possible, it’s worth spending
Snapdragon 450 fuelling it for 13 hours in more to get the Moto G7 Power, which offers
processor and 3GB of our looped video test. both better overall performance and a much
RAM, an identical That’s better than the longer-lasting battery. It costs another £80,
setup to the Motorola Huawei Mate 20 Lite which is nearly a whole second Smart X9, but
Moto G6 – a previous- and Nokia 7.1, but miles that’s not a vast amount of money in the
generation handset. behind the Galaxy J6+ grander scale of smartphones.
Unsurprisingly, then, it and Moto G7 Power. Otherwise, if £100 really is your limit –
falls behind the more A £99 smartphone and you’re willing to buy on PAYG, with
recent Moto G7 models with a dual-camera Vodafone being the only mobile network
in benchmarks, scoring array is something of a provider – then you could do a lot worse.
89
MID-RANGE SMARTPHONES
HONOR View 20
★★★★★
£489 • From www.ebuyer.com
VERDICT
Not just a superb pseudo-flagship, the View 20’s design
makes it one of the most exciting smartphones in ages
HONOR MIGHT NOT be known for world- slight blue tint when phone’s camera app
firsts, but it’s nabbed one with the View 20: you’re viewing the gives you the option
this is the first smartphone with an in-display display from the side. of shooting in both
front-facing camera, tucked away in a little Much more 48MP and 48MP AI
hole-punch section in the top left-hand exciting is the Ultra Clarity modes.
corner. Besides doing away with any kind of processor: Huawei’s Both produce images
notch, this also allows for a design that, save Kirin 980, the same of the same
for a tiny sliver of black at the bottom, is octa-core chip that resolution, but
almost entirely bezel-free. powers the flagship judging from our
To make it even less obtrusive, the camera Mate 30. It’s here in test shots, the latter
lens width has been shrunk from 6mm (like a much cheaper can capture finer
on most smartphones) to 4.6mm. This handset, and pushes detailing. The
attention to detail also extends to the rear the View 20 to trade-off is that
panel, where there’s a gorgeous laser-etched fantastic Geekbench pictures take a little
‘V’ pattern. All in all, the View 20 is one of the 4 scores of 3,259 in longer to capture, so
best-looking smartphones around. the single-core test you’ll need good
It’s practical, too. On the top edge is both and 9,729 in the lighting or a perfectly
a 3.5mm headphone jack and an IR blaster, multicore test. That still subject.
which allows you to control TVs, air makes the Kirin 980 Generally
conditioners, projectors and other appliances even more powerful speaking, the Mi 8
through the pre-installed Smart Remote app. than the Snapdragon Pro takes even
There’s no expandable storage, but with 845, which in turn sharper shots,
128GB built in, this isn’t such a big omission. makes the View 20 the fastest Android especially in low light, where the View 20’s
NFC, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth phone you can buy for less than £500. resulting photos look noticeably noisy. Things
5.0 are all supported, too. can be greatly improved on Honor’s handset
A little less convincing is Honor’s claim SMOOTHING OVER by turning on HDR, however, and you can
that the View 20’s internals are water- Gaming on the Mali-G76 MP10 GPU is electric, shoot 4K video at 60fps, something the Mi 8
resistant. There’s no official IP rating for dust too: the View 20’s GFXBench Manhattan Pro can’t do. The forward-facing camera isn’t
or water, so we’d suggest playing it safe and results of 59fps in the onscreen test and quite as absurdly high-res as the rear one, but
keeping it well clear of puddles and pools. 85fps in the offscreen test put it on about it’s still a 25-megapixel sensor and thus takes
equal footing with the OnePlus 6T, and ahead some impressively detailed portraits.
BOLD MOVES of the Xiaomi Pocophone F1. In addition to the View 20’s regular
The 6.4in display is IPS, not OLED, but with an Battery life is also pretty decent, if nothing cameras, there’s also a rear-facing Time-of-
aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and a sharp 2,310x1,080 special. The View 20’s 4,000mAh battery Flight (TOF) sensor for 3D scanning, and a
resolution, it makes a good first impression. lasted 14h 41m in our video playback test, centre-weighted IR sensor for depth. These
However, once we a little behind the allow you to scan small objects from around
started taking more Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro as well one metre away, and then apply 3D
detailed measurements, as the Pocophone F1. animations to your digital captures.
the results were slightly The good news is that
disappointing. In if you’re running low SCAN ARTIST
Standard mode, peak on juice, the View 20 Right now, this is mostly a bit of fun –
brightness reaches only can be fast-charged to animating re-creations of figures and toys,
a middling 387cd/m2, 55% in just 30 minutes, for example – but its potential is exciting.
while contrast ratio is an and fully charged in Honor has indicated that in the future,
underwhelming 969:1, around an hour. the sensor could be used to scan entire
and sRGB gamut The View 20’s rear buildings and visualise large-scale projects in
coverage is 90.2%. camera isn’t as small real time through the use of AR.
Switching to the as the front-facing For now, the View 20 is still a great
Vivid mode makes one, but it’s still smartphone. It’s about as expensive as you
improvements across noteworthy thanks can get without tipping into outright high-end
the board, with to its staggering territory, which means it’s not a mid-range
410cd/m2 peak 48-megapixel bargain in the same vein as the Pocophone F1,
brightness, 1,035:1 resolution. This but then it’s also capable of competing with
contrast and 97.4% represents a total of handsets costing £800 and more. Its
sRGB coverage, but this 8,000x6,000 pixels, the processing power is truly top-tier, and the
comes at the cost of highest we’ve ever seen notchless, ultra-modern design is a thing of
colours looking less from any smartphone. beauty. If its display and battery life were
accurate and more To make the most better, it could even go toe-to-toe with the
saturated. There’s also a of all those pixels, the outstanding OnePlus 6T.

MOTOROLA Moto Z3 Play

★★★★★
VERDICT
Motorola’s modular phone is back, but mediocre performance
and a dodgy camera make it an uneasy return
WE’VE ALWAYS LIKED the Moto Z Play edge-to-edge display, F1, for instance, can
series. Its attachable Moto Mods could have which isn’t strictly be had for less than
been a silly gimmick, but many of them are true; there are quite £300, and still crushes
genuinely useful, and underneath this clearly defined the Snapdragon 636
modular functionality has always been quality, bezels on all sides with its high-end
reliable core hardware that would make each and, while they’re Snapdragon 845.
phone a good buy even if you couldn’t whack slim, it is by no Battery life
a magnetic power pack directly on the back. means an edgeless presents more bad
The Moto Z3 Play is the third in this line. It phone. The display news, as this phone
looks similar to the Z2 Play (Shopper 357), and still hits the 18:9 appears to be a
can use the same Moto Mods, but is a touch aspect ratio, downgrade on the
bigger at 157x77x68mm, thanks to the display however, and with Moto Z2 Play. That
growing by 0.5in. It’s also 11g heavier, at 156g. both a Super phone lasted for a
Moto Mods work by clipping on to the AMOLED panel and superb 19h 33m in our
rear. In addition to a bigger and longer-lasting a high 2,160x1,080 video test, but the
battery power pack, you can add hardware resolution, it looks Moto Z3 Play only
that can vary the phone’s capabilities: there’s very good indeed. managed 16h 10m. We
an insta-share projector that will blow up your Coverage of the say ‘only’ – that’s still
phone’s display to 70in; a Polaroid-style sRGB gamut hit a full a good result by most
printer that can produce real, physical 100% in our tests, standards – but a step
photographs taken by your phone’s camera; a but be warned, the back nonetheless.
gaming pad accessory; and a variety of cases Vibrant screen The rear-facing
that double up as JBL Bluetooth speakers. setting massively oversaturates the screen. camera on the Moto Z3 Play comprises two
At first glance, the Moto Z3 Play appears We’d suggest leaving it in Standard mode. lenses, one 12-megapixel with f/1.7 aperture
not to have a fingerprint reader, but it’s just in and one 5-megapixel with a depth sensor. This
an unusual position. Instead of sitting at the MILD THING setup can shoot video at an impressive 2160p
back or bottom of the phone, it resides on the The Moto Z3 Play is equipped with a at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps. The 8-megapixel
right side of the phone beneath the volume Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, a direct upgrade f/2.0 aperture selfie camera is no throwaway
button, a place usually reserved for the power from the Moto Z2 Play’s Snapdragon 626, effort either, also capturing 1080p footage at
button, which has been moved to the left. It’s along with 4GB of RAM. In Geekbench, the 30fps. However, the footage is not
unusual, but it works – when we picked up the Moto Z3 Play scored an uninspiring 1,330 in electronically stabilised, so the outcome
phone, our thumb was always naturally drawn the single-core test and 4,929 in the multicore tends to be on the shaky side.
to the sensor. Left-handed users can easily test. These are nearly identical to the Nokia There are a number of fun photo modes
use their index finger, too. 7.1’s scores, which isn’t surprising as they to play around with in the Moto Z3 Play’s
share a processor, although the 7.1 also camera software, the best of which is the
DEAF METAL happens to be less than half the price. cutout filter. This excels at capturing photos
In less positive news, Motorola’s phone of household pets, which can then be quickly
the Moto Z2 Play’s also matches the 7.1 on juxtaposed with either a stock background or
3.5mm headphone jack gaming performance, any photo off your phone, often to hilarious
has been culled, leaving which is to say it effect. There are loads of face filters and video
you with just a USB underwhelms for the modes to choose from, and the software is
Type-C port and an price. In the GFXBench well labelled and simple to navigate.
unwieldy 3.5mm-to- onscreen test it ran at
Type-C adaptor. What’s 15fps, only rising to SAVED BY THE CELL
worse is that this 16fps in the offscreen Camera quality is another letdown, however.
adaptor didn’t work for test, so while it can Details are often blurred and dull when on
us: no matter which handle basic 2D titles superior smartphone cameras they might
wired headphones we without issue, it’s really appear crisp and defined. Even outdoors, it
used, plugging in the not suitable for playing was hard to even vaguely make out the
adaptor did nothing to the most demanding brickwork patterns on nearby buildings.
stop audio being played Android games. Luckily for Motorola, the Moto Z3 Play’s
from the phone’s It’s problematic display quality, versatility through Moto Mods
speakers instead. enough that the Moto and long battery life (even if it is a downgrade)
Bluetooth headphones Z3 Play is only as fast as go some way to make up for its performance
worked fine, but still, a £189 handset, but and camera problems. Even so, there are far
this is a fairly serious then there’s also the better-value choices in the mid-range: the
technical mishap. matter of what else you Pocophone F1 is unbeatably powerful for its
Motorola claims that can get for the money: price, and the Honor View 20 delivers flagship
the Z3 Play has a 6in the Xiaomi Pocophone features without the usual £500-plus outlay.
91
PALM Phone
★★★★★
£350 • From shop.vodafone.co.uk
VERDICT
Intriguing but flawed, this utterly tiny smartphone
isn’t the comeback device Palm needs
PALM, BEST KNOWN for the PalmPilot PDA despite being used Otherwise, it
from the mid-1990s, is back with a most to bigger handsets. looks and behaves
peculiar smartphone: it’s an Android handset, The onscreen like any other
but with a tiny 3.3in screen it looks almost like keyboard can feel Android phone.
a humorous parody of a modern handset. cramped, however. With full Android
It’s no joke, though, and makes a certain In Geekbench 4’s app support, you
sense: with display sizes having exploded in CPU benchmark, shouldn’t encounter
recent years, there could be room for a much the Palm Phone any issues installing
smaller device on the market, even if it is achieved a applications, and the
mainly intended as a backup phone for leaving single-core score of phone’s settings
in the car or taking on holiday. It’s fairly well 684 and a multicore menu functions as
equipped, too, with an octa-core Snapdragon score of 2,849, you’d expect. You
435 chip, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and while the GFXBench can also add widgets
support for microSD cards up to 256GB. A Manhattan gaming such as Google
12-megapixel camera sits on the rear, with an test saw it average calendar and
8-megapixel snapper on the front. 12fps onscreen. weather information
Alas, the Palm Phone’s availability is a bit Don’t get too hung to the right of the
of a hurdle. First of all, it’s exclusive to up on those homescreen, and
Vodafone in the UK for £350 with a £10 numbers, however: Google Assistant
pay-as-you-go SIM. Two-year contracts, on despite the slow can be accessed if
the other hand, start at a whopping £27 a boot times, most you swipe from the
month for just 500MB of data, with £129 up Android applications ran left edge of the display.
front, accruing a total cost of £777 at the without a hitch, and we didn’t experience any On the back of the Palm Phone, a small
end of 24 months. That’s flagship money. noticeable stutter or lag while navigating bulge houses a solitary 12-megapixel rear
menus or dropping in and out of apps. camera, with a single LED flash sitting
SHRUNK SOUL BROTHER The Palm Phone is also capable of running underneath the lens. That’s a pretty basic
It might take some getting used to if you’re most Android games, but there’s one real set of specs, but the camera software allows
familiar with big, bulky smartphones dragging problem here: because the touchscreen is you to adjust the camera’s shutter speed,
your pockets down, but the Palm Phone’s tiny so small, your thumbs will cover up good focus and ISO mode.
size gives it a certain appeal in spite of this chunks of it when using touch controls, The interface is very well implemented and
high price. Slightly smaller than a credit card, making games more difficult to play. didn’t feel sluggish or laggy when switching
the Palm Phone is capable of fitting in most That issue pales in comparison to battery between various settings. There are a handful
wallets. It looks pretty swish, too, with a life. Lasting a mere 3h 37m in our video test, of other shooting modes on offer, too,
glossy rear and rounded gun-metal grey this is a major problem for the Palm Phone’s including panorama, light tracing, instant
edges. The rear camera arrangement is quite hopes of being a viable holiday phone. In more collage and a face-softening beauty mode.
iPhone-like, with the solitary snapper situated general use, we struggled to get a full day’s The Palm Phone is capable of taking some
on the right corner, and Palm branding in the use out of a full charge. good snaps, and the 8-megapixel selfie
centre of the phone. It’s also IP68 dust- and camera on the front captures decent images,
water-resistant, though seemingly at the ROLL CALL too. Surprisingly, the results are just as good
expense of a headphone jack. The software experience here is slightly as pictures taken with the excellent Moto G6
That tiny screen uses different to most other Plus, especially outdoors, although the Palm
an IPS panel, and has a Android phones. The Palm Phone’s HDR mode was overly aggressive at
resolution of 1,280x720. phone runs a tweaked times, producing washed-out images.
That sounds low, but it version of Android 8.1
only needs to cover 3.3in out of the box – not the HAND ME DOWN
of space, so the Palm most recent version of The Palm Phone’s headline feature is clearly
Phone still looks nicely Google’s ever-popular its size but, most importantly, its diminutive
sharp. Other than mobile operating stature doesn’t really restrict you to a
relatively low sRGB system – and includes pared-down experience. This pint-sized –
coverage of 82%, it’s also a new version of the nay, shot-glass-sized phone – functions, for
a respectable performer: homescreen to get used the most part, almost as you’d expect from
peak brightness stretches to. This functions like any 2018 smartphone.
up to 518cd/m2, and the Apple’s watchOS: slide The big exception is battery life, which is
1,654:1 contrast ratio is your finger up and down sadly unforgivable, and the contract price is
nice and high, too. the screen and you’ll very hard to justify. It might be in a class of
Surprisingly, we found scroll through a list of its own – and if you did want a phone of
it easy to navigate application icons, this size, there simply aren’t any alternatives
Android with such a which are arranged – but as it stands, the Palm Phone seems a
diminutive touchscreen, honeycomb-style. half-baked first effort.

SONY Xperia 10 Plus

★★★★★
£350 • From www.very.co.uk
VERDICT
The adoption of a 21:9 aspect ratio is intriguing, but
favouring this over the competition is a tall order
IN SHARP CONTRAST to the Palm Phone, getting an arguably sensor, the Xperia 10
the Xperia 10 Plus is as tall as smartphones budget-tier chip in a Plus uses a 12-megapixel
come; both it and the smaller, generally £300-plus mid-range camera supported by an
lower-specced Xperia 10 are fitted with 21:9 smartphone – just like 8-megapixel 2x optical
aspect ratio screens. In the Plus model’s the Moto Z3 Play, down zoom lens. This
case, it’s an enormous 6.5in diagonally, to them using the exact essentially gives you a
although it has the same 2,520x1,080 same chip. As such, choice: would you
resolution as the standard Xperia 10. Sony’s phone scored rather be able to take
Happily, the aspect ratio actually makes similarly disappointingly pictures from further
the Xperia 10 Plus easier to hold than the in Geekbench 4, with away, or be able to add
other 6.5in handset we’ve used recently, the 1,351 in the single-core blur effects to selfies?
iPhone XS Max: while it’s taller, it’s also not test and 4,909 in the We suspect the former
as wide, so the whole thing is a bit easier to multicore test. will be more practical.
grip. The downside is that you might have It’s true that In terms of image
to reposition your thumb to reach to the these results don’t quality, the Xperia 10
top or bottom corners. point towards the Plus is quite good at
The idea, according to Sony, is that since Xperia 10 Plus being taking still images in
the majority of Netflix films are shot in 21:9, slow and clunky, but bright, sunny
the new Xperia family is better for watching it’s nowhere near as conditions. Colours are
films. The added height also lets you see more fast as you can get reproduced as you see
of each app in a split-screen multitasking view. for the cash; the them, there’s plenty of
Pocophone F1 is proof detail even with objects
SHADE DEGRADE of that. The same goes for gaming, as hidden away in the background, and it seems
However, there is a problem with this screen, according to its 13fps result in the GFXBench to do a decent job at handling noise
and it will absolutely affect how films and TV Manhattan onscreen test (and 16fps in the suppression. The HDR mode successfully
look. Our colorimeter recorded sRGB offscreen test), the Xperia 10 Plus will brightens shadowy areas, although there’s a
coverage of just 77%, not to mention an struggle to play more demanding 3D games. rather brown-looking tinge to images taken
average delta-E of 2.72, reflecting quite a few with HDR enabled.
colour inaccuracies across the palate, most BIGGER IS BETTER The same can’t be said about the Xperia 10
notably with undersaturated red, pink and There’s also not an awful lot to shout about Plus’s low-light capabilities. A wider aperture
green tones. Anecdotally, we found the when it comes to battery life: the Xperia 10 would have helped here, as darker shots lose a
display somewhat dull and washed-out. Plus lasted 13h 2m in our video playback lot of detail and vibrancy.
There are a few positives to be found, benchmark, which, like many phones in this
however. A searing test, suggests functional AND ACTION
maximum brightness of yet uninspiring longevity The Xperia 10 Plus is capable of capturing
577cd/m2 is well suited in everyday use. 4K resolution footage at either 16:9 or 21:9
for sunny conditions, The one upside is that format with Sony’s excellent SteadyShot
and the contrast ratio of the Plus version’s larger stabilisation tech. Sadly, both of these
1,492:1 ensures text and battery capacity has recording formats are limited to 30fps, so
images look pin-sharp. improved the phone’s you’ll have to turn the resolution down to
It’s a shame those stamina over its smaller 1080p to enable silky-smooth 60fps capture.
iffy-looking colours put a sibling. Where sub-par Sony’s object-tracking feature is restricted to
downer on what could battery life was the lower-resolution recordings, too.
have been a big and Xperia 10’s biggest Luckily, video quality is top notch.
brilliant display. drawback, the Xperia 10 Slow-panning footage looks nice and stable,
Another difference Plus lasted four hours almost as though you’re using a professional
between the two Xperia longer than the standard gimbal. Everything looks crisp and clear, even
10 phones is power. The Xperia 10, so the higher in low light conditions.
Plus is equipped with capacity proves to be a Tally everything up and it’s clear that the
the Qualcomm worthy upgrade. Xperia 10 Plus is a vastly superior smartphone
Snapdragon 636 As for the camera, to the Xperia 10. Still, compared to the rest of
processor and 4GB of there’s a dual-lens setup the mid-range market, you’re better off
RAM, compared to the on the back, much as looking outside Sony’s range entirely; the
Xperia 10’s Snapdragon there is on the smaller Pocophone F1 is better in almost every way,
630 and 3GB. Xperia 10. But whereas from performance and display quality to
Unfortunately, even if that comes with a battery life. Sony might well be on to
you go for the more 13-megapixel camera, something with the 21:9 design, but it’s going
powerful Xperia 10 Plus, supported by a to need to try harder with the rest of its
this means you’re 5-megapixel depth hardware in the future.
93
XIAOMI Mi 8 Pro
★★★★★
VERDICT
It’s not as outrageously good value as the Pocophone F1,
but this is another well-priced phablet from Xiaomi
AS WITH THE Honor View 20, this is another 431.3cd/m2 makes it Cameras are
smartphone that pushes the definition of eminently usable often a weak point
‘mid-range’, but blame the makers and sellers outdoors, and as for cheaper phones,
of high-end smartphones for shifting long as you turn off but the Mi 8 Pro
standards and prices ever upwards for that. adaptive contrast starts out strongly. It
Xiaomi has already shown it can make and eye comfort, the has a dual-camera
excellent handsets for less, mainly with the screen is reasonably setup on the rear,
Pocophone F1. With its Qualcomm colour accurate. with both capturing
Snapdragon 845, dual-lens camera and huge Another highlight photographs at 12
6.2in display for less than £300, you might be is the Snapdragon megapixels. The
wondering how the Mi 8 Pro – which has all 845, which – again, primary camera
three of the same features, but costs £200 like the Pocophone has a nice, bright
more – could be worth it. F1 – propels the Mi 8 aperture of f/1.8, big
Pro to very high 1.4um pixels and
ALL CLEAR performance for its optical image
For starters, it has one of the most unusual price. With scores of stabilisation. The
designs we’ve seen on a smartphone in ages. 2,432 and 8,917 in secondary camera
The rear glass panel isn’t textured or coloured, Geekbench 4’s adds a 2x optical
but translucent bordering on transparent, so single- and multicore zoom with an
you can ogle the phone’s exposed processor tests, this phone is aperture of f/2.4, but
and circuit board. It may not be to everyone’s pretty much even on slightly smaller 1um
tastes, but it’s certainly a striking departure performance with pixels with less
from the norm. the OnePlus 6T, if by virtue of having the light-gathering ability. On the front is a single
The front is less eye-catching, but still very same chip. The 6T is a bit more expensive, 20-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/2.
high-spec. The tall 6.2in display, which unlike however, at a minimum of £499. Performance-wise, it impresses in low light,
the Pocophone F1 uses an AMOLED panel, It’s a similar story with gaming where its large sensor and sympathetic
fills almost the entire front, save for the notch performance, with both phones scoring handling of noise mean slightly cleaner, less
eating into the top edge. The volume rocker 59fps in the GFXBench Manhattan 3 muddy images than on the View 20. In
and power button sit on the right, there’s a onscreen test, although the OnePlus 6T better-lit outdoor shots, the Mi 8 Pro didn’t
USB Type-C socket on the bottom between a somehow beat the Mi 8 Pro’s offscreen test offer quite the same advantage: pictures often
pair of speaker grilles, and the dual SIM tray is score of 71 by 12 points. looked softer and, with HDR on, oversaturated,
on the right. You also get an in-screen but we’d still say it shoots slightly nicer-
fingerprint reader and an infrared face-unlock ALTERNATIVE VIEW looking pictures than the View 20.
front camera that works in the dark. There’s also the View 20 to consider. Huawei’s For video, we’d recommend paying more
There’s no dust or water-resistance rating, Kirin 980 chip was slighter faster than the for the OnePlus 6T. This can shoot 4K footage
however, and the Mi 8 Pro doesn’t have a Snapdragon 845 in general CPU performance at 60fps, whereas the Mi 8 Pro can only
3.5mm headphone jack. Most disappointingly, and gaming, and since the View 20 costs handle this resolution at 30fps. Xiaomi’s video
there’s no storage about the same as the stabilisation isn’t the best, either.
expansion, but with Mi 8 Pro, it looks a better We’re also not keen on how Xiaomi’s
128GB of storage on choice if you’re seeking a MIUI Android skin cuts out the apps drawer,
board as standard, powerful phone without forcing all your app icons onto the home
that’s less of an issue having to spend so much screen. As is the case with the Pocophone F1,
than it might otherwise on the top flagships. the redesigned icons for all the core Android
have been. NFC is also Battery life is apps have just made them ugly. It is, at least,
supported, in contrast respectable but not quick and responsive; there’s never the sense
to the Pocophone F1. class-leading. That that MIUI is slowing down Android, even if it
The 2,280x1,080 means, crucially, it isn’t does muck up the UI design.
AMOLED screen is also as good as the OnePlus
a step up from the 6T. Still, in our video EIGHT BLOOMER
Pocophone F1’s IPS rundown test, it lasted These gripes aside, the Mi 8 Pro is powerful
panel, which was already 15h 40m, which and affordable enough to be another welcome
good to begin with. The translates to a addition to the growing number of lower-
Mi 8 Pro reproduced an comfortable day of priced flagship alternatives. As to whether it’s
excellent 97.7% of the moderate use (not to better than the View 20, that comes down to
sRGB colour gamut in mention a few minutes what you find most important in a phone: the
our tests, along with the more than the View 20 performs better, and its lack of screen
perfect contrast ratio Pocophone F1, and bezels makes it even more stylish than the Mi
that AMOLED is famed almost exactly an hour 8 Pro, but Xiaomi’s phone has a better camera
for. A peak brightness of longer than the View 20). and slightly longer battery life.

XIAOMI Pocophone F1
★★★★★
VERDICT
For flagship performance at an affordable
price, nothing beats the Pocophone F1
XIAOMI MIGHT NOT be a name you’re use, although you 5-megapixel

familiar with. Pronounced ‘shh-OW-mee’, may have to squint depth-sensing lens
the Chinese tech company is the fourth at the screen in for fancy bokeh-
most popular smartphone maker in the direct sunlight. effect photos. Neither
world, but has only recently started selling The real star, sensor is optically
products in the UK. however, is the stabilised, but the
Nevertheless, it’s made the strongest of Snapdragon 845 main camera benefits
first impressions, as the Pocophone F1 – one processor. Together from effective
of its very first UK-launched smartphones – is with 6GB of RAM, it dual-pixel phase
phenomenal value. By including the makes the Pocophone detection autofocus
Snapdragon 845, the same CPU currently F1 a true match for for speedy shots.
powering most of the world’s flagship phones, the current crop of Bokeh or no
it’s a mid-range handset in price alone. flagships: its bokeh, the
Well, perhaps not entirely: some corners Geekbench 4 Pocophone F1 is
have been cut, most noticeably in the benchmark results, capable of capturing
uninspired all-plastic chassis. Still, silver-tinted 2,454 in the single- some truly stunning
chamfered edges add a dash of class, and the core test and 8,427 in images. Our test
rounded corners and sides ensure that it fits the multicore, are as shots were bursting
comfortably in the palm. The rear-mounted close as you’d hope with crisp details,
circular fingerprint reader is easy to reach, too. to other Snapdragon accurate colours and
845 models such as a very neutral palette,
TAPPED OUT the OnePlus 6T and with the HDR mode
You even get a 3.5mm headphone jack on Google Pixel 3. successfully lighting up shadowy areas. Still
the phone’s top edge, which is quite Graphics performance is equally potent. images hold up very well under scrutiny,
refreshing, and the 4,000mAh battery is The Pocophone F1 reached a fantastic score especially in low-light conditions, with minimal
topped up via a USB Type-C charging port of 59fps in the GFXBench Manhattan noise grain and unnatural processing.
on the bottom edge. The dual-SIM slot on onscreen gaming test, as well as 68fps in Video capabilities are just as good, even if
the left edge allows for storage expansion the offscreen test, so this phone will the recording modes are rather limited. You
up to 256GB in capacity, and the volume effortlessly run any current Android game can only capture 4K footage at a maximum
rocker sits next to a slightly rounded you care to throw at it. frame rate of 30fps, for instance, and the lack
rectangular power button on the right. Compared to most other mid-range of sensor stabilisation does hamper the
There’s no dust or waterproofing, however, phones, the Pocophone F1 is incomparably quality somewhat, but video quality remains
and an even bigger issue is the lack of NFC. quick. The Moto Z3 Play, Palm Phone and impressive. There are also other shooting
This renders the Pocophone F1 unable to be Sony Xperia 10 Plus can’t hope to keep up, modes on offer, such as super-slow-motion
used with contactless payment systems like and although the Honor View 20 and footage at 120fps and time-lapse capture.
Android Pay, which could be a pain if you Xiaomi’s own Mi 8 Pro are much closer on The only questionable aspect of the
were used to such services on your old phone. performance, they both cost a lot more. Pocophone F1, besides the plasticky chassis,
The display, on is the MIUI 10 Android overlay. The app
the other hand, BUILT TO LAST icons, for one thing, are offputtingly child-like,
is wonderfully All this power typically and navigating the settings menu is trickier
uncompromised. It’s a comes at a cost to the than on stock Android; we simply couldn’t
large 6.2in, 2,246x1,080 phone’s overall battery find how to disable screen timeout.
IPS panel, matching the life. Thankfully, the App notifications don’t always show up
current trend of 18:9 Pocophone F1 has taken at the top of the screen, either.
smartphone screens. no such hit, and was These issues can be remedied by installing
It covers a respectable capable of reaching 15h a third-party launcher of your choice,
91.7% of the sRGB 29m in our continuous thankfully, but that doesn’t stop the
colour space, with an video playback test. Pocophone F1 feeling that little bit less slick.
excellent average delta-E That’s not quite as
of 1.27. The contrast long-lasting as the Moto POC SOLID
ratio of 1,371:1 also does Z3 Play, but is still more Xiaomi has mostly crafted a brilliant
justice to the images than satisfactory for a smartphone, planting its flag in UK soil with a
captured with the £280 smartphone, device that delivers utterly astonishing value.
Pocophone F1’s rear especially one with The physical design and dodgy UI aren’t ideal
dual-camera higher-end components. – this isn’t quite a OnePlus 6T-style handset,
arrangement. Lastly, The dual-camera fully replicating the flagship experience at a
a peak brightness of setup consists of a main lower price – but on performance, battery life
446cd/m2 is high 12-megapixel sensor, and camera capability, it can keep up with
enough for outdoor with a secondary rivals that cost twice as much or even more.
95
PREMIUM SMARTPHONES
APPLE iPhone XR
★★★★★
£709 • From www.debenhamsplus.com
VERDICT
The iPhone XR is not the best-equipped iPhone, but
it’s nearly as good as the XS and is far cheaper
IT WAS A frustrating wait for the iPhone XR, single-core test and Its 93% coverage
the cheapest of Apple’s latest round of iOS 11,338 in the of the sRGB gamut is
smartphones. Apple was clearly hoping to multicore test, very good too, and
focus attention on the more expensive the XR is no less the display also
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max (Shopper 371) powerful than the supports both
before launching this, by far the most XS or XS Max, and HDR10 and Dolby
affordable handset in the range. that puts it above Vision content, so
Not that’s it’s all that cheap – in fact, it’s any existing Android compatible video
still very expensive, costing on a par with smartphone as well. content (like Netflix
high-end Android smartphones even after It’s the same story Originals) will look
dropping from its original £749 launch price. with gaming: the absolutely spiffing.
Still, at least it doesn’t hit the £1,000 mark, iPhone XR managed The camera is
like its XS-branded stablemates. 60fps in GFXBench the same as you get
It’s also tough to spot many physical Manhattan’s on the XS and XS
differences between the XR and the XS onscreen test Max: a 12-megapixel
models. The iPhone XR’s tiny bezels are only and 109 in the snapper with an
very slightly thicker than on the iPhone XS, offscreen test. aperture of f/1.8,
and the frame is matt-finish aluminium Battery life, optical image
instead of shiny stainless steel. thankfully, is much stabilisation and
Look a little closer and you’ll see that better than last 1.4um pixels,
the camera housing at the rear is circular, year’s iPhone X, giving you more
rather than oval, in shape. The iPhone XR also something that’s light-gathering
has two fewer antenna bands around the largely thanks to the more efficient 7nm capabilities over last year’s iPhone X.
edges, giving away the fact that this phone processor. It also sits exactly in the middle You don’t get the XS’s second camera, of
has only a 2x2 MIMO antenna array and can’t between the XS and the XS Max, lasting course, but you can expect better dynamic
reach the same Gigabit download speeds as 13h 29m in our video test. This isn’t exactly range in video than last year’s iPhones,
the XS and XS Max. amazing, but it should comfortably get you alongside super-smooth 60Hz stabilised 4K
The iPhone XR is slightly less water- through a moderately demanding day of use. footage. And, despite this lack of a second
resistant than the iPhone XS, rated at IP67 camera to add depth mapping, Apple’s
instead of IP68, although it will still shrug off a PANEL SURFING portrait mode is still in evidence, and it
light shower. Otherwise, the XR feels every bit The big difference between the iPhone XR has the same adjustable bokeh as on the
as good to hold and to use as Apple’s top-end and its more expensive siblings is the screen iPhone XS. The key difference here is that
iPhones, and has most of the same features, tech, which Apple is calling Liquid Retina. the iPhone XR shoots portrait images at a
including the front-facing True Depth Face ID Don’t be bamboozled by the marketing speak, wider, less flattering angle than the XS
camera. This takes however. It’s just an and XS Max, and you don’t get as many
the place of any kind IPS screen with studio-lighting effects. The results are still
of fingerprint sensor, rounded corners. extremely impressive, however.
so it’s the only Despite having a The main camera, too, is outstanding.
choice if you want nominally lower pixel It’s capable of capturing stunning images in
to unlock your density than the XS both good and poor light, aided by Apple’s
phone biometrically. (326ppi vs 458ppi), it new Smart HDR algorithm, which captures
doesn’t look at all and combines eight frames in a fraction of a
UP TO SPEED fuzzy or pixellated, second to deliver lag-free, full-range
For its core and colour accuracy photography. Although it isn’t quite a
performance, the is as you’d expect match for the Huawei Mate 20 Pro in
iPhone XR employs from an Apple terms of its stills photography, the
Apple’s latest iPhone, which is differences are small.
hexa-core mobile to say pretty
chip: the A12 Bionic. unimpeachable. BEARING FRUITS
This 7nm chip is the Brightness reaches a The iPhone XR might not be the most highly
fastest in the mobile sunny-day-friendly specced iPhone, and £709 still feels like a big
industry right now 684cd/m2, and the ask, but if you absolutely refuse to pick up a
and, backed by 3GB contrast ratio is better-value Android handset then it’s easily
of RAM, it powered unbelievably good at the best option of the current Apple crop.
the iPhone XR to an 1,736:1. While it isn’t Even if features such as the display and
impressive set of quite up to the level waterproofing are better on the iPhone XS
benchmark results. of the OLED displays and XS Max, the XR is still more than good
Scoring 4,817 in on the XS and XS enough in these areas, and even matches its
Geekbench 4’s Max, it’s not far off. more expensive siblings on pure performance.

PREMIUM SMARTPHONES
GOOGLE Pixel 3
★★★★★
£589 • From store.google.com
VERDICT
The Pixel 3 is Android’s standard-bearer, and
the best in its class for photography
SOMETIMES A SMARTPHONE doesn’t this only affected the Other firms may
need fancy hardware gimmicks to achieve larger phone and not be pushing out
greatness. The Pixel 3 is a perfect example: it the main Pixel 2, but phones with
represents no major departure for handheld the lack of a similar dual-camera
technology, but with just some well-executed issue on either of the arrangements, and in
core features and a single camera, it instantly new Pixel 3 devices some cases four, but
became one of our favourite phones of 2018 was a relief. the Pixel 3 launches
– and it still stands up a few months later. with only a single
The 3 is the smaller of Google’s current Pixel YOU AGAIN 12.2-megapixel rear
duo, with a 5.5in display to the Pixel 3 XL’s Unsurprisingly, the camera. This might
6.3in screen. Since the Pixel 3 XL costs £719, Pixel 3 is powered seem old hat, but
the Pixel 3 is also a lot cheaper, and benefits by the ubiquitous Google has suggested
from a much cleaner notch-less design, even Qualcomm that its HDR+
if the two have similar internals. They’re also Snapdragon 845. algorithms have
the same on the back, with an unusual but Working in tandem improved, thanks
pleasant-feeling mix of glossy and matt-finish with 4GB of RAM, to the slightly
glass and a circular fingerprint reader. this octa-core chip better image signal
propelled the Pixel 3 processor working
DRY ANOTHER DAY to scores of 2,430 and on things behind
These are the first Pixel phones to support 8,007 in Geekbench the scenes.
wireless charging, via the Qi standard, though 4’s single- and There is, however,
you can still top up the Pixel 3 with the USB multicore tests a dual-camera
Type-C port on the bottom edge, where the respectively. arrangement on the front of the phone.
SIM tray now resides. The whole thing meets That’s a 27% improvement on the Pixel 2, One is a regular 8-megapixel RGB-capturing
the IP68 specification for dust- and water- and the Pixel 3 is neither noticeably slower unit, while the other is a wide-angle lens.
proofing, too, so don’t fret about accidentally nor faster than any other Snapdragon 845 It’s very good at bokeh-like portrait
introducing it to shallow water. There’s no phones out there, although there are newer photography too, offering even better-defined
3.5mm jack, but both a Type-C adaptor and a processors that make for slightly faster portrait shots than Apple’s iPhone XS.
pair of wired Pixel earbuds are included. phones. The Huawei P30’s Kirin 980 and the The rear camera is the real star, however.
Thinner bezels mean that compared to Samsung Galaxy S10+’s Exynos 9820 both The Pixel 3 captures images with superb
the Pixel 2 (Shopper 359), the Pixel 3 has room allow their respective handsets to outperform dynamic range and colour saturation, and
for a larger 5.5in, 18:9 aspect ratio display the Pixel 3, but you’d be paying significantly the HDR+ algorithms work as well as ever,
without drastically increasing the device’s more than £589 for either of them. effectively capturing tricky areas such as
overall size. It’s also Google’s best screen yet: Things are a lot more even on the gaming cloud layers and tree foliage, while lighting
besides the higher front: in GFXBench up darker, shadowy areas.
2,160x1,080 resolution, Manhattan 3, the Pixel Low-light performance is just as good. In
we measured sRGB 3 produced 60fps in our test shots, the relatively wide f/1.8
gamut coverage at a the onscreen test and aperture camera managed to brighten dark
high 94% and delta-E 79fps in the offscreen images nicely, capturing pictures with oodles
at just 1.25. At least, we test. There won’t be a of detail. Objects looked crisp, and colour
did with the Natural game on the Google reproduction was slightly more accurate than
screen profile – all the Play Store that should images captured on the iPhone XS.
others oversaturate pose a challenge,
things. Contrast ratio is performance-wise. PROCESSED FOR SUCCESS
a perfect infinity:1, and The downside of The Pixel 3’s camera is a cut above everything
maximum brightness the upgraded else, although it could have been even better.
hits 398cd/m2. That’s processor and larger The lack of a secondary telephoto lens really
still not quite enough screen is that battery dampens the Pixel 3’s photographic versatility,
to counteract direct life is down from the and the lack of support for 4K video recording
sunlight completely, Pixel 2. Whereas at 60fps is a shame. Nevertheless, Google’s
although a circular Google’s 2017 model algorithms make this a fantastic phone for
polarising layer helps lasted 14h 17m in our taking photos.
reduce screen glare. battery benchmark, It’s clear that Google is sticking to a
Crucially, the Pixel 3 the Pixel 3 only formula with its smartphones – making a few
doesn’t suffer from the reached the 12h 22m key tweaks, without radically altering the
same blue-tinted mark. While that’s blueprint – but this hasn’t resulted in
screen-flickering issues not abysmal by any humdrum handsets. In fact, the Pixel 3 is one
that afflicted the old means, a downgrade of the best Android devices of its generation,
Pixel 2 XL. Granted, is still a downgrade. and it certainly has the best camera.
97
PREMIUM SMARTPHONES
HUAWEI P30
★★★★★
VERDICT
It’s not quite Huawei’s most exotic phone, but the
P30 still packs in lots of luxury-level hardware
THE FIRST THING to know about the P30, equally capable of yellow, blue) filter to
Huawei’s new premium smartphone, is that it running intensive impart colour to
isn’t just a smaller version of the P30 Pro. The games, according to images instead of the
two have the same processor, the Kirin 980, its GFXBench usual RGB (red,
and both have triple-lens rear cameras, but Manhattan onscreen green, blue) filter.
these are fundamentally different phones. test result of 59fps There’s also a
For a start, the Huawei P30 has a smaller and its 85fps in the 16-megapixel
screen, at 6.1in versus 6.5in, although the offscreen test. ultra-wide lens and
2,340x1,080 resolution is the same. It lacks This is, in other an 8-megapixel
the 5x optical telephoto lens of the P30 Pro, it words, one of the telephoto lens, which
isn’t as water-resistant, doesn’t have curved most powerful provides the 3x zoom.
screen edges and the battery is smaller Android smartphones Having used both
(3,450mAh versus 4,200mAh), and it also out there, although the P30 and the P30
lacks wireless charging. don’t forget that the Pro, the longer zoom
Straight away, it sounds like there’s no way Honor View 20 has makes a clear
that the P30 can reach the same highs as the the same processor, difference in
P30 Pro. However, at £699, the standard P30 and is more than £200 long-range shots, but
is a full £200 cheaper, and even without cheaper. It’s therefore for most snaps
curved screen edges we’d say it looks just as better value than the there’s not a lot in it.
good. In fact, the only thing we don’t like P30 if you’re primarily The standard P30
about the sleek, plush design is how the rear concerned with still takes very fine
camera sticks out a little further than on the performance. In the photos: outdoors,
old P20 (Shopper 365), making it prone to opposite direction, you may wish to consider colours are reproduced accurately, and fine
rocking when placed on a flat surface. the Samsung Galaxy S10+, which is £200 details such as foliage and brickwork is seldom
The P30’s inclusion of a headphone jack more expensive but a lot more powerful. lost. Low-light performance is also serviceable,
actually gives it an advantage over the P30 The P30 has much better battery life than even for the high price. A wider aperture would
Pro, which doesn’t have one, and although the View 20, however. Its time of 18h 32m in have helped sharpen things up in darker
there’s no microSD support, you can still our video playback benchmark is a fantastic conditions, but the results are still decent.
expand on the 128GB integrated storage with result. The OnePlus 6T and Galaxy S10+ still The rest of the camera setup is a touch
Huawei’s proprietary nano memory cards. come out ahead, though with leads that are a less impressive. The P30 has a 32-megapixel
lot narrower here than compared to phones f/2 selfie camera, but much of the detail this
MAXED OUT such as the Pixel 3 and Sony Xperia XZ3. is capable of capturing is smoothed away by
The 6.1in display performs brilliantly: This is a result that translates to a good day Huawei’s over-aggressive image processing.
brightness peaks at an incredible 824cd/m2 and a half of moderate use without having to 4K video capture also remains an Achilles
in auto-brightness mode, and HDR10 is recharge the P30, and if you’re careful with it, heel for Huawei. Although image stabilisation
supported for compatible content (you can the battery can go on for even longer. is much improved over previous smartphones,
find this easily enough on YouTube, Netflix you’re still unable to shoot 4K at 60fps. And
and Prime Instant SHORTER STUFF although it would be nice to use the optical
Video). Coverage of the It’s unfortunate that the zoom in video mode, there’s no way to move
sRGB gamut reaches a P30 Pro’s 5x optical smoothly from one zoom level to the next –
respectable 93.8% in the telephoto capability is there’s lots of skipping and jumping around.
display’s Normal mode; replaced by a lower 3x That’s not to mention the crazily complex
if you prefer a more zoom on the P30, but camera app, which, for instance, forces users
vibrant, if less neutral the triple-lens setup on who want to use the 40-megapixel camera at
colour palette, you can this cheaper handset is native resolution to switch to 10 megapixels
switch to Vivid mode to still great. The primary before making the ultra wide-angle and
push this up to 100%. camera has a telephoto modes available.
Since the P30 uses 40-megapixel sensor,
the same octa-core Kirin just like the P30 Pro, and NO PRO
980 as the P30 Pro, that sensor measures The P30 is a sufficiently high-quality
there’s no need to spend the same 1/1.7 in and smartphone to compete with the more fully
more for performance. employs the same featured P30 Pro. Perhaps more importantly,
It’s faster than the Google whizzy SuperSpectrum it also outperforms and lasts longer than the
Pixel 3 and OnePlus 6T technology for Pixel 3 and Xperia XZ3, two of its close rivals,
by considerable margins, supposedly improved and its display is one of the best on any
scoring 3,261 in the low-light performance. handset. It’s also relatively expensive, which is
single-core Geekbench 4 SuperSpectrum, if you’re a potential issue when the Pixel 3 and OnePlus
test and 9,587 in the unfamiliar, refers to the 6T are both below £600, but if you can spare
multicore test, and is use of an RYB (red, the cash you’re unlikely to be disappointed.

PREMIUM SMARTPHONES
ONEPLUS 6T
★★★★★
£499 • From www.oneplus.com
VERDICT
Even putting aside its multiple improvements on the OnePlus
6, the 6T’s core performance, design and camera are brilliant
ONEPLUS HAS BEEN flying the flag for S10+ manage to go OnePlus has
flagship-killing Android smartphones for even faster, thanks to touted software
several years now, with the OnePlus 6 their newer chips, but improvements to the
(Shopper 367) setting the benchmark for these are also a lot camera, but we
delivering high-end smartphone features for a more expensive. struggled to see any
price that significantly undercuts some of the As is the norm for difference between
finest handsets out there. Snapdragon 845 photos taken on the
With each new generation of OnePlus phones, gaming is no 6T and the 6. That’s
phone, the Chinese firm creates a ‘T’ version, bother: in GFXBench no bad thing, as the
offering a suite of nips and tucks to improve Manhattan, the OnePlus 6 produced
on the earlier OnePlus model. The OnePlus 6T OnePlus 6T achieved very nicely detailed
is, unsurprisingly, the exact same story. excellent scores of and colour-rich
At first glance, there aren’t many major 59fps in the onscreen photos, and the 6T
differences between the 6T and its test and 83fps in the does the same.
predecessor. The rounded rectangular design offscreen test, high It can’t quite
is immediately familiar, only this time it enough for any game compete with the
squeezes in a 6.4in display, which is up a on the Play Store. quality of the Pixel 3,
slither compared to the OnePlus 6’s 6.3in Although OnePlus especially when
screen. The front camera notch is smaller, too. has touted software zoomed in. But that
However, not all the changes are cosmetic. improvements to its is a more expensive
The 6T ditches the 6’s headphone jack, and OxygenOS user device, and the 6T still
the rear fingerprint sensor has been removed, interface (currently does a sterling job for
though at least in this case, it’s also replaced on its ninth generation) to optimise anyone who’s not obsessed with getting the
by a more modern in-display sensor. There’s background processes and improve very best in smartphone photography.
also facial unlocking, which works well. performance in Android, there wasn’t any The front-facing 16-megapixel camera also
Overall, the OnePlus 6T is a good-looking, noticeable difference between the 6T and the performs admirably and can handle portrait
well-built phone, and with Gorilla Glass 6 on 6. It does, however, have one of the neatest photos with blurred backgrounds for bokeh
the front and Gorilla Glass 5 on the rear, it’s and smoothest implementations of gesture effects with decent aplomb.
likely to withstand a good bit of wear and tear. control we’ve seen on an Android phone. Video performance is as solid as the
Besides the size increase, the 2,340x1,080 OnePlus 6, with 4K 60fps video capture, as
AMOLED display remains largely unchanged. GO LONG well as an impressive slow-motion mode.
That’s not a complaint: the OnePlus 6T’s OnePlus has pumped an extra 400mAh into When it comes to extras, OnePlus has
display is sharp and colourful, covering 99.6% the 6T’s battery pack, bringing it up to always erred on the side of less is more, and
of the sRGB gamut. Contrast also reaches a 3,700mAh. That’s a much-appreciated that’s the case with the 6T, too.
perfect infinity:1. upgrade, as the OnePlus 6’s main weak point There’s no IP water-resistance rating,
was a slightly disappointing battery life. although the 6T comes with silicone rings and
DEEP BREATHS In our tests, the 6T managed to last sealant to prevent occasional liquid splashes
Under the hood, the 21h 40m, outlasting the from ruining it. Nor will you find any capabilities
OnePlus 6T has the same OnePlus 6 by four hours, to turn the 6T into a pseudo-desktop
Snapdragon 845 and marking itself out as experience with an adaptor, or any dedicated
processor as its the high-end phone to AI assistant, as is the case with Samsung
predecessor and most beat on sheer longevity. Galaxy handsets. Still, these omissions are the
other flagship Android In practical terms, that closest things to cut corners you’ll find on the
phones. That chip is translates to a full OnePlus 6T; it really does feel like a top-flight
matched with 6GB or working day of power for phone with an almost mid-range price.
8GB of RAM; our review everything from web
unit had the latter. browsing and email to CHEAP THRILLS
And much like the watching videos. We’d be tempted to call the OnePlus 6T an
OnePlus 6, the 6T’s The 6T’s camera array incremental update, but that would be doing
performance is stellar. remains the same as its it a disservice. It may not be perfect, but you
In Geekbench 4, the older sibling, albeit in a can spend a lot more to get a slightly better
octa-core processor slightly slimmed-down camera and sharper screen and not
scored 2,326 in the module. The dual-camera necessarily notice the difference.
single-core test and 8,815 rear setup has a The little changes to the design and the
in the multicore test, 16-megapixel lens with a under-screen fingerprint scanner add up to
which is about as good f/1.7 aperture and a make the OnePlus 6T one of the very best
as any flagship 2018 20-megapixel lens for Android phones around, and a handset
phone. The Huawei P30 depth sensing and aiding we’d urge you to consider as your next
and Samsung Galaxy low-light photography. smartphone for work and play.
99
PREMIUM SMARTPHONES
SAMSUNG Galaxy S10+

★★★★★
£899 • From www.currys.co.uk
VERDICT
Fantastic hardware meets refined usability; the
Samsung Galaxy S10+ is absolutely sublime
THE GALAXY S10+ is a phone of rare perfect 100% SRGB Galaxy S9+, but
distinction. Not because it’s the biggest gamut coverage in what’s new is the
smartphone launch of 2019 so far, but Vivid mode (94.7% in third, 16-megapixel,
because it’s the first device we’ve tested in Standard) and contrast ultra-wide-angle lens,
ages that feels as if it brings together a wealth hitting infinity:1. with a field of view
of new features without compromising Suffice to say, this equivalent to a 12mm
anything else. Except, perhaps, the price. is a screen that is full frame lens.
In typical Samsung style, it looks great and spectacularly good for Image quality is
feels suitably opulent in the hand, with Gorilla watching video. What’s absolutely superb,
Glass on both the front and back. There’s an less likeable is that its with colour
Honor View 20-style ‘hole-punch’ camera in curved edges are a reproduction a
the top-right corner, complete with facial- little oversensitive to particular highlight.
unlocking capability, and we love the little accidental activation: if This is also one of
detail of a spinning, snake-like graphic around you’re reaching across the few smartphones
this black dot when it’s searching for a face to with your thumb, for that can compete
scan. There’s also an in-display fingerprint instance, your palm with the Google
reader, if you’d prefer. This works faster and can contact the screen Pixel 3’s rear camera
more reliably than other in-display sensors and prevent the thumb on capturing fine
we’ve used, but facial unlocking is faster. successfully pressing details, and the
Samsung has also managed not just to an onscreen control. wide-angle lens –
include a headphone jack and microSD slot, niche as it may be –
but to do so while remaining compliant with FASTER CLASS makes Samsung’s handset more flexible.
the IP68 standard for dust- and waterproofing. Thankfully, that’s a rare occurrence. What The Galaxy S10+ excels for video capture,
There’s also wireless charging and reverse you’ll notice with more regularity is that the too. It’s able not only to shoot smooth,
wireless charging, meaning the Galaxy S10+ performance of the Galaxy S10+ is impeccable, stabilised footage in 4K at 60fps, but can also
can act as a power bank – hold, say, a friend’s thanks to Samsung’s new Exynos 9820, record HDR10+ clips for video with improved
wireless charge-compatible smartphone backed up with a hefty 8GB of RAM. Even the dynamic range and ultra slow-motion footage.
against the back, or even certain accessories Huawei P30 wasn’t as fast in our benchmarks, On the front, a dual-lens approach is
such as the Galaxy Buds (Shopper 376), and with the Galaxy S10+ scoring 4,461 in taken: you get a regular 10-megapixel lens and
you can provide an emergency top-up. Geekbench 4’s single-core and 10,391 in the an 8-megapixel depth-sensing lens, although
multicore test. Only Apple’s A12 Bionic-power this can also provide a slightly wider angle of
DYNA-MIGHT iPhones are faster overall. This translates into view for group shots. It’s a decent enough
Dominating the front is the 6.4in, 19:9 aspect beautifully smooth day-to-day operation. camera for selfies, but quality does dip
ratio AMOLED display. It can run at Gaming performance is as high as you’d significantly in low light: skin tones, in
3,040x1,440 but defaults to 2,280x1,080, like as well. In GFXBench Manhattan 3, the particular, are prone to turning ghostly pale.
which could well be the better choice for Galaxy S10+ scored 56fps in the onscreen test
performance and battery life. and a monster 107fps in the offscreen test. ONE LOVE
Besides Samsung’s ‘Infinity O’ camera, The Exynos 9820 is a remarkably efficient Also deserving of a mention is the Galaxy
what’s interesting about this screen is the chip, too. Despite all that brawn and the huge S10+’s revamped interface. Dubbed One UI,
‘dynamic’ OLED tech display, the Galaxy S10+ this has to be the best software Samsung has
within it. This amounts to kept going for 21h 17m, ever put on any of its smartphones. It’s
a collection of new making it one of the few packed full of nice little details, from the
features, namely a claimed high-end phones capable animated highlighting that surrounds the
peak brightness of of challenging the front-facing camera momentarily when you
1,200cd/m2, 10-bit colour, OnePlus 6T on battery life. switch to the front-facing camera to the sheer
support for HDR10+ To be clear, that’s with the customisability of the interface. There are
content and reduced blue default 1080p resolution some less-than-useful pre-installed apps, but
light emission (without setting: go up to 1440p otherwise One UI has a cleaner look and a
having to enable eye and you’ll see a big drop, better sense of immediacy and snappiness
comfort mode). but you’ll still get more than Samsung’s previous Android skins.
According to our than enough endurance Put simply, the Galaxy S10+ is a joy to use.
measurements, the S10+ to last for a day’s use. It’s not a joy to buy, as even the cheapest
didn’t quite reach the The rear camera 128GB version is £899. That alone might be
1,200cd/m2 mark, but its adopts an increasingly enough to put potential buyers off and point
1,057cd/m2 in automatic common triple-lens them in the direction of a more affordable
brightness mode is still layout. There’s a main top-tier Android phone such as the Pixel 3.
preposterously high. It 12-megapixel lens and a There’s a difference between being expensive
delivers the goods 12-megapixel, 2x zoom and being a rip-off, though, and the exquisite
elsewhere, too, hitting a lens, as on the preceding Galaxy S10+ feels like it’s worth every penny.

PREMIUM SMARTPHONES
SONY Xperia XZ3

★★★★★
£700 • From www.currys.co.uk
VERDICT
Sony’s first OLED-equipped smartphone is a success,
but it still has a tough time standing out
SMARTPHONE INNOVATION IS a mixed bag. rather than a not bad, but the
For every attractive full-body display and dealbreaker, but it’s a OnePlus 6T kept going
triple (or quadruple) camera arrangement, shame when Sony gets for hours longer, in the
there’s some gimmick like side-squeezing so close to smartphone same conditions and
controls and naff 3D face-scanning. screen perfection. with the same
For its latest flagship, Sony hasn’t exactly Another letdown is Snapdragon processor.
gone where no smartphone has before, but the removal of the The camera
its big new feature is exciting nonetheless: a 3.5mm headphone specifications might
6in OLED screen, with technology borrowed jack, although the not look particularly
from the firm’s Bravia line of TVs. Xperia XZ3 goes a long intriguing; Sony’s
This is framed by minuscule notch-free way to make up for it. latest flagship is fitted
chin and forehead bezels above and below Not only has Sony with a 19-megapixel
the screen. The panel wraps around the done a much better job f/2.0 snapper, which
sides of the device ever so slightly, too, just at making this phone benefits from
like the Samsung Galaxy S10+. look good compared to electronic image
the boxy Xperia XZ2 stabilisation for
INTELLIGENCE OPERATION and other previous super-steady shots.
Sony has also borrowed a feature originally Xperia devices, but it Sony’s effective
included on Samsung’s phones. ‘Side Sense’ comes with full IP68 predictive phase-
lets you double-tap anywhere along the protection against detect and laser
length of either side of the screen, which water and dust. autofocus setup is
launches a sub-menu for easy access to your Processing power also included.
most-used applications. AI learning plays a comes from the octa-core Qualcomm In use, however, the camera performs
big part here, too, with the phone adjusting Snapdragon 845, that classic high-end phenomenally. Images taken outdoors
the displayed apps depending on the time of smartphone staple. It’s paired with 4GB of are packed with detail, with the likes of
day and your location. Essentially, the Xperia RAM and 64GB of onboard storage, which can brickwork, chimney stacks and tree foliage
XZ3 will make sure the apps you want are be expanded up to 400GB via microSD. being picked up beautifully.
always at your beck and call – a clever use of As you can imagine, the Xperia XZ3 HDR mode also effectively helps subtly
the extra screen space. performs about as well as every other boost images by brightening up shadows,
The panel itself is seriously good. In Snapdragon 845 device out there, scoring without losing intricate details such as wispy
standard mode, we measured contrast at a 2,400 in the Geekbench 4 single-core test and cloud layers. Colours look nice and natural,
perfect infinity:1, while sRGB gamut coverage 8,950 in the multicore test. These results put especially in low-light conditions, and images
hit 99%. Switching to Super Vivid mode in the it behind the Galaxy S10+ and Huawei P30, are packed with contrast. This is a great
display settings pushed this to 100%, while but it’s still as quick and responsive as could camera for stills photography.
keeping the same contrast level and boosting be expected of a premium handset. You can also record footage at 4K
peak brightness from GPU performance resolution with HDR enabled, just like on the
335cd/m2 to 337cd/m2. was also appropriately XZ2, and the XZ3 can capture super-slow-
The large size and high, the Xperia XZ3 motion Full HD video at 960fps. Videos look
high resolution of scoring 45fps in the crisp with loads of detail and, although 4K
2,960x1,440 also make it GFXBench Manhattan 3 HDR footage is capped at 30fps, we didn’t
a pleasure for watching onscreen test and 76fps notice any juddering frame-rate issues.
videos, while text is kept in the offscreen test. The
crisp and sharp. former might seem a big RIGHT TRACK, WRONG TIME
There is an issue, step backwards from the The Xperia XZ3 is a welcome return to form
however, which is most Xperia XZ2, which for Sony. Following an abundance of middling
noticeable when white produced 59fps, but that smartphone launches, the XZ3 successfully
text is displayed on a can be explained by the gets everything right where it counts: top-tier
black background. newer model’s much performance, high screen quality and a swish
There’s clear evidence of higher-resolution display. redesign. It’s certainly a more complete
colour fringing here, with package than the Xperia 10 Plus.
hints of purples or blues CUTS BOTH WAYS Why, then, is it only getting four stars and
in the outlines of text. Unfortunately, this no award? It’s because £700 is a lot to ask for
While this issue is enhanced sharpness also a phone that, as good as it is, doesn’t
common with OLED- means battery life takes significantly outperform any of its rivals
fitted smartphones, it’s a hit. Whereas the XZ2 (including cheaper alternatives) in any
much more noticeable kept going for 20h 5m in particular department. The OnePlus 6T and
here than with any our video playback test, Google Pixel 3 are both just as good, and far
other we’ve tested thus the XZ3 ran out of juice better in individual areas such as battery life
far. It’s a minor niggle after 13h 3m. That’s still and camera quality, while costing less.
101
SMARTPHONES
BUDGET
Award RECOMMENDED BEST BUY BEST BUY
Manufacturer HUAWEI MOTOROLA MOTOROLA NOKIA SAMSUNG VODAFONE

Model Mate 20 Lite Moto G7 Play Moto G7 7.1 Galaxy J6+ Smart X9
Power
Rating ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
HARDWARE
Processor Octa-core 2.2GHz Octa-core 1.8GHz Octa-core 1.8GHz Octa-core 1.8GHz Quad-core 1.4GHz Octa-core 1.8GHz
HiSilicon Kirin 710 Qualcomm Qualcomm Qualcomm Qualcomm Qualcomm
Snapdragon 632 Snapdragon 632 Snapdragon 636 Snapdragon 425 Snapdragon 450
RAM 6GB 2GB 4GB 3GB 3GB 3GB
Screen size 6.3in 5.7in 6.2in 5.8in 6in 5.7in
Screen resolution 2,340x1,080 1,512x720 1,520x720 2,280x1,080 1,480x720 2,160x1,080
Screen type IPS IPS IPS IPS IPS IPS
Front camera 24 megapixels 8 megapixels 8 megapixels 8 megapixels 8 megapixels 8 megapixels
Rear camera 20 megapixels, 13 megapixels 12 megapixels 12 megapixels, 13 megapixels, 16 megapixels,

2 megapixels 5 megapixels 5 megapixels 5 megapixels
Flash LED LED LED LED LED LED
GPS Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Compass Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Storage 64GB 32GB 64GB 32GB 32GB 32GB
Memory card microSD microSD microSD microSD microSD microSD

slot
Wi-Fi 802.11ac 802.11n 802.11ac 802.11ac 802.11ac 802.11n
Bluetooth 4.2 4.2 4.2 5.0 4.2 4.2
NFC Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Wireless data 4G 4G 4G 4G 4G 4G
Dimensions 158x75x7mm 147x72x8mm 159x76x9.3mm 150x71x8mm 161x77x8mm 148x71x8mm
Weight 172g 149g 193g 160g 178g 153g
FEATURES
Operating Android 8.1 Android 9.0 Android 9.0 Android 8.1 Android 8.1 Android 8.1
system
Battery size 3,750mAh 3,000mAh 5,000mAh 3,060mAh 3,300mAh 3,100mAh
BUYING INFORMATION
Warranty One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB Two years RTB One year RTB One year RTB
Price (SIM-free) £250 £150 £180 £189 £190 £99
Supplier www.carphone www.amazon. www.carphone www.amazon. www.carphone shop.vodafone.

(SIM-free) warehouse.com co.uk warehouse.com co.uk warehouse.com co.uk
Price (contract) £19 per month £15 per month £15 per month £14 per month £14 per month £23 per month
Prices correct at time of going to press
Supplier www.carphone www. www.carphone www.carphone www.carphone shop.vodafone.

(contract) warehouse.com mobilephones warehouse.com warehouse.com warehouse.com co.uk
direct.co.uk
Details consumer.huawei. www.motorola. www.motorola. www.nokia.com www.samsung. www.vodafone.

com co.uk co.uk com com
Part code 51092QYU PAE70021GB PAE90019GB Nokia 7.1 SM-J610F/DS Smart X9

SMARTPHONES
MID-RANGE
Award RECOMMENDED RECOMMENDED BEST BUY
Manufacturer HONOR MOTOROLA PALM SONY XIAOMI XIAOMI

Model View 20 Moto Z3 Play Phone Xperia 10 Plus Mi 8 Pro Pocophone F1
Rating ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
HARDWARE
Processor Octa-core 2.6GHz Octa-core 1.8GHz Octa-core 1.4GHz Octa-core 1.8GHz Octa-core 2.8GHz Octa-core 2.8GHz
HiSilicon Kirin Qualcomm Qualcomm Qualcomm Qualcomm Qualcomm
980 Snapdragon 636 Snapdragon 435 Snapdragon 636 Snapdragon 845 Snapdragon 845
Screen size 6.4in 6in 3.3in 6.5in 6.2in 6.2in
Screen resolution 2,310x1,080 2,160x1,080 1,280x720 2,520x1,080 2,248x1,080 2,246x1,080
Screen type IPS AMOLED IPS IPS AMOLED IPS
Front camera 25 megapixels 8 megapixels 8 megapixels 8 megapixels 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Rear camera 48 megapixels 12 megapixels, 12 megapixels 12 megapixels, 12 megapixels, 12 megapixels,

5 megapixels 8 megapixels 12 megapixels 5 megapixels
Flash LED Dual LED LED LED Dual LED Dual LED
Memory card None microSD microSD microSD None microSD

slot
Wi-Fi 802.11ac 802.11ac 802.11ac 802.11ac 802.11ac 802.11ac
Bluetooth 5.0 5.0 4.1 5.0 5.0 5.0
NFC Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
Dimensions 157x75x8.1mm 157x77x6.8mm 97x51x10mm 167x73x8.3mm 155x75x7.6mm 156x75x9mm
Weight 180g 156g 60g 180g 177g 180g

FEATURES
Operating Android 9.0 Android 8.1 Android 8.1 Android 9.0 Android 8.1 Android 8.1
system
Battery size 4,000mAh 3,000mAh 800mAh 3,000mAh 3,000mAh 4,000mAh

BUYING INFORMATION
Warranty One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB
Price (SIM-free) £489 £380 £350 £350 £484 £280
Supplier www.ebuyer.com www.amazon. shop.vodafone. www.very.co.uk www.ebuyer.com www.ebuyer.com

(SIM-free) co.uk co.uk
Price (contract) £30 per month Not available £27 per month, £22 per month £22 per month, £22 per month
£127 up front £20 up front
Supplier www.tescomobile. Not available shop.vodafone. www.carphone www.three.co.uk www.mobile

(contract) com co.uk warehouse.com phonesdirect
co.uk
Details www.hihonor.com www.motorola. www.palm.com www.sonymobile. www.mi.com www.mi.com

co.uk com
Part code 51093HLE PABH0028GB Palm Phone 1318-2767 MZB7000EU MZB6715EN

SMARTPHONES
PREMIUM
Award RECOMMENDED BEST BUY RECOMMENDED BEST BUY BEST BUY
Manufacturer APPLE GOOGLE HUAWEI ONEPLUS SAMSUNG SONY

Model iPhone XR Pixel 3 P30 6T Galaxy S10+ Xperia XZ3
Rating ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
HARDWARE
Processor Hexa-core 2.5GHz Octa-core 2.8GHz Octa-core 2.6GHz Octa-core 2.8GHz Octa-core 2.7GHz Octa-core 2.8GHz
Apple A12 Bionic Qualcomm HiSilicon Kirin 980 Qualcomm Samsung Exynos Qualcomm
Snapdragon 845 Snapdragon 845 9820 Snapdragon 845
Screen size 6.1in 5.5in 6.1in 6.4in 6.4in 6in
Screen resolution 1,792x828 2,160x1,080 2,340,1,080 2,340x1,080 3,040x1,440 2,960x1,440
Screen type IPS OLED OLED AMOLED AMOLED OLED
Front camera 7 megapixels 8 megapixels, 32 megapixels 16 megapixels 10 megapixels, 13 megapixels
8 megapixels 9 megapixels
Rear camera 12 megapixels 12.2 megapixels 40 megapixels, 16 megapixels, 12 megapixels, 19 megapixels
16 megapixels, 20 megapixels 12 megapixels,
8 megapixels 16 megapixels
Flash Quad LED Dual LED Dual LED Dual LED LED LED
Memory card slot None None Nano memory card None microSD microSD
Wi-Fi 802.11ac 802.11ac 802.11ac 802.11ac 802.11ac 802.11ac
Bluetooth 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
NFC Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Dimensions 151x76x8.3mm 146x68x7.9mm 149x71x7.6mm 158x75x8.2mm 158x74x7.8mm 158x73x10mm
Weight 194g 148g 165g 185g 175g 193g
FEATURES
Operating system iOS 12 Android 9.0 Android 9.0 Android 9.0 Android 9.0 Android 9.0
Battery size 2,942mAh 2,915mAh 3,650mAh 3,700mAh 4,100mAh 3,300mAh
BUYING INFORMATION
Warranty One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB One year RTB
Price (SIM-free) £709 £589 £699 £499 £899 £700
Supplier (SIM-free) www.debenhamsplus. store.google.com www.amazon.co.uk www.oneplus.com www.currys.co.uk www.currys.co.uk
com
Price (contract) £45 per month £37 per month £41 per month £48 per month £58 per month, £39 per month
£10 up front
Supplier (contract) www.tescomobile. www mobile www.tescomobile. www.carphone www.carphone www.tescomobile.
com phonesdirect.co.uk com warehouse.com warehouse.com com
Details www.apple.com store.google.com consumer.huawei. www.oneplus.com www.samsung.com www.sonymobile.
com com
Part code iPhone XR Pixel 3 51093RPY OnePlus 6T SM-G975FZKDBTU 1316-6787
VERDICT
While there’s a particularly rich bounty of top-grade smartphones possible. The Honor View 20 succeeds in a similar vein, despite
above £500, some great handsets can still be found for a fraction of costing considerably more, as its Kirin 980 chip is the same one
that price. The Vodafone Smart X9 is a prime example: for just £99, used in Huawei’s high-end P30.
its combination of a high-quality display, a decent rear camera and The P30 is also a fine smartphone, to be sure, although in the
attractive design is a rare bargain. The Motorola Moto G7 Power is flagship stakes it’s beaten by the OnePlus 6T, Google Pixel 3 and
also a great budget phone, matching some mid-rangers on Samsung Galaxy S10+. The 6T has almost all the trappings of an
performance while offering some truly exceptional battery life. elite handset with a borderline mid-range outlay, while the Pixel 3
Relative newcomer Xiaomi impresses with both the Pocophone F1 has the cleanest Android OS and the best single-lens camera on
and the Mi 8 Pro, the former especially. £280 for a phone with the market. The Galaxy S10+ is expensive enough to be offputting
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 should be an extremely attractive for some, but anyone who can afford it will be treated to a
proposition for anyone wanting flagship power for as little cash as handset of pure luxury.

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software and game tests. to our reference PC (see opposite for specifications)
SUMMARY OF TESTS
PC SYSTEMS & GAMING LAPTOPS DIGITAL CAMERAS PROCESSORS
Windows overall Average speed across Battery life Number of shots from
numerous demanding tasks full charge Windows overall Average speed across
numerous demanding tasks
Multitasking Speed when running CAMCORDERS
simultaneous applications Battery life Run time in minutes Multitasking Speed when running
Dirt Showdown Frames per second at for recording simultaneous applications
(1080p) 1,920x1,080, 4xAA, ROUTERS
Dirt Showdown Frames per second at
Ultra detail Laptop 2.4GHz Mbit/s at 5m with 802.11ac (720p) 1,280x720, 4xAA,
Metro: Last Light Frames per second at 5m laptop on 2.4GHz band High detail
Redux (1080p) 1,920x1,080, SSAA, Laptop 2.4GHz Mbit/s 1 floor up with
Very High detail 1 floor 802.11ac laptop on MOTHERBOARDS
LAPTOPS 2.4GHz band
Windows overall Average speed across
Windows overall Average speed across Laptop 2.4GHz Mbit/s 2 floors up with numerous demanding tasks
numerous demanding tasks 2 floors 802.11ac laptop on
2.4GHz band Multitasking Speed when running
Multitasking Processor-intensive simultaneous applications
multitasking test Laptop 5GHz Mbit/s at 5m with 802.11ac
5m laptop on 5GHz band
Dirt Showdown Frames per second at Dirt Showdown Frames per second at
(720p) 1,280x720, 4xAA, Laptop 5GHz Mbit/s 1 floor up with (1080p) 1,920x1,080, 4xAA,
High detail 1 floor 802.11ac laptop on 5GHz band Ultra detail
Laptop 5GHz Mbit/s 2 floors up with
Battery life Run time in minutes for Dirt Showdown Frames per second at
2 floors 802.11ac laptop on
continuous video playback (720p) 1,280x720, 4xAA,
5GHz band
SMARTPHONES/TABLETS High detail
NETWORK-ATTACHED STORAGE
Battery life Run time in minutes for Large files Average MB/s for read/write GRAPHICS CARDS
continuous video playback of 100MB large files
PRINTERS AND MFPs Dirt Showdown Frames per second at
Small files Average MB/s for read/write (1080p) 1,920x1,080, 4x MSAA,
Mono text speed Pages per minute for of 100MB small files Ultra detail
correspondence-quality text HARD DISKS
Mixed colour speed Pages per minute for Tomb Raider Frames per second at
Huge files Average MB/s for read/write
presentable text and graphics 1,920x1,080, SSAA,
of a single 2.5GB file
Ultra detail
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pence per page of 2.5GB of large files Metro: Last Light Frames per second at
Colour page cost Running costs expressed as Small files Average MB/s for read/write Redux 1,920x1,080, SSAA,
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Our benchmark suite uses open-source software that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux Avoid!
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combination of intensive image-editing, video-encoding and multitasking tests. The best products can win
We ran the tests on our reference PC, which has an Intel Core i5-4670K processor, the following awards:
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test systems.
BEST BUY
Products with outstanding quality
The resulting overall score is shown at the bottom of every PC and laptop review. and performance for the money
As we use the same tests in our standalone and group test reviews, you can compare
win our Best Buy award.
the performance of any computer, whether it’s a hybrid, laptop or desktop, from both
sections of the magazine.
3D BENCHMARKS
DIRT SHOWDOWN
Dirt Showdown is a cracking racing
game that makes good use of
DirectX 11’s fancy graphical effects.
RECOMMENDED
Products that don’t quite qualify
You’ll want at least 30fps for
for a Best Buy award but are still
smooth racing.
highly rated by our reviewers.
TOMB RAIDER
With the ultra-demanding
Super-Sampling Anti-Aliasing
(SSAA) enabled, 2013’s Tomb Raider
reboot is a great indicator of
mid-range performance.
BUSINESS BUY
The very best products for work
win our Business Buy award.
METRO: LAST
LIGHT REDUX
Our most demanding graphics test
uses tessellation, SSAA and massive
textures to give even high-end cards
a thorough workout.

PRODUCT INDEX
Product Reviews
Our guide to all the products reviewed
in this month’s Computer Shopper
145
Hot Product
Huawei MateBook X Pro
Components
MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Ti revi ews
(2019) 18 Gaming X 6G 34
SilverStone Tundra TD02-RGB 35
PCs
Storage Photography
Chillblast Fusion Ryzen 7 RTX
WD Blue SN500 36 Nikon Z6 48
2070 Custom Gaming PC 22
Toshiba Canvio Premium 4TB 38
Overclockers Gaming XVI
Essential 24 Wearables
Printers Garmin Vivomove HR 50
Brother MFC-J5945DW 40 Fitbit Inspire HR 52
Laptops
HP Spectre x360 13 (2019) 26
Networks Software
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 30
Netgear Orbi Outdoor RBS50Y 42 Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2019 54
Lenovo Yoga C930 31
Audio
Smartphones
Displays Creative Outlier Air 44
Huawei Mate 20 Lite 84
Philips Brilliance 499P9H 32 JBL Endurance Dive 46
Motorola Moto G7 Play 85
Motorola Moto G7 Power 86
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE Nokia 7.1 87
Samsung Galaxy J6+ 88
Vodafone Smart X9 89
Honor View 20 90
Motorola Moto Z3 Play 91
Palm Phone 92
Sony Xperia 10 Plus 93
Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro 94
Xiaomi Pocophone F1 95
Apple iPhone XR 96
Google Pixel 3 97
Huawei P30 98
OnePlus 6T 99
Samsung Galaxy S10+ 100
CALL 0330 333 9493 OR SEE PAGE 126
Sony Xperia XZ3 101

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www.drivingelectric.com
110
It is
rocket
science,
actually
Forty years after NASA took
delivery of its first launch-
ready Shuttle, Nik Rawlinson
looks back at the software and
systems that made the world’s
only viable space plane fly
O
nboard computers played a relatively minor
role in the US moon landings. They handled
guidance and navigation, which isn’t much
more than in-car satnav manages today.
Things were very different by the time of
the Space Shuttle’s first flight in 1981, which NASA had
envisaged as a pseudo-Uber in orbit.
Almost a decade earlier, with the Shuttle still on the
drawing board, NASA administrator Thomas Paine had
expounded its benefits. Quoted by the Birmingham Daily
Post, he’d explained: “With the coming of the Space
Shuttle, it would be possible for many men and women
of many nationalities to fly as passengers. They will not
need elaborate training, but simply to be in good health.”
NASA wanted several Shuttles in simultaneous orbit,
but managing a fleet of that size would be far too
complex for banks of computers stationed back on Earth.
It would only work if the Shuttle became the world’s first
flying computer. So, while commercial airlines were still
111
mechanical devices, with moving cables ⬆ Although it bears a striking resemblance to gestation. When work began on the Shuttle,
physically connecting the pilot’s yoke to the a commercial airliner, the Shuttle was far more high-speed WAN was still just a dream, so a
rudder, the Shuttle pioneered fly-by-wire accomplished, and pioneered fly-by-wire operation bid from a team based in Houston, as IBM’s
operation. Output from the cockpit fed a was, had natural appeal.
series of onboard interfaces. These prioritised the tender in two so it could keep a handle With its contractor in place, NASA
each command and transmitted them to the directly on whoever was writing the code. described the software’s core functions,
engines, flaps and life support systems, On the surface, this should have made little leaving Rockwell to write the design brief.
entirely as bits and bytes. No wonder NASA difference. IBM was the successful bidder, and This became a point of contention.
considered software “the most critical it was to IBM that Rockwell, which was busy As outlined in James E Tomayko’s book
component of the Shuttle”. building the orbiter at Plant 24 – a classified Computers in Spaceflight, “IBM and NASA
It’s 40 years since NASA took delivery of facility in Palmdale, California – had always managers suspect that Rockwell, miffed when
Columbia, the fleet’s first space-ready craft. intended to subcontract the work. the software contract was taken away from
This is the story of how its software came to IBM’s success was partly geographical. them, may have delivered incredibly precise
be written, and the compromises that had to Apollo’s software had been keyed in Boston, and detailed specifications to the software
be made before the era of cheap computing 1,800 miles from Houston, greatly slowing its contractor… One NASA manager said that
we take for granted today. ‘you can’t see the forest for the
‘yo
trees’… One IBM engineer claimed
tre
The long tail that Rockwell went ‘way too far’…
tha
NASA budgeted $20m for that the early portion of the
tha
software. Then it changed the Shuttle development was ‘under-
Shu
Shuttle’s spec, several times. engineered’ and that Rockwell and
eng
From 1973, when the first line Draper included some requirements
Dra
of code was committed, to that were not passed on by NASA.
tha
1981 when the Shuttle took “Rockwell delivered the ascent
flight, more than 2000 changes requirements, and IBM coded
caused the final bill to rocket to them to the letter, thereby
$200m ($1.1bn today).
Rockwell International had ⬅ Endeavour sits on the runway,
hoped to land both sides of the while Columbia, on the back of the
contract – building the Shuttle Shuttle transporter aircraft in the
and developing the software – background, takes off for its return
but NASA had other ideas. It split journey to Cape Canaveral

⬆ Space Shuttle Columbia is brought to Cape Canaveral in advance of being made ready for launch
exceeding the available memory by two-and-a- ⬆ The Shuttle’s flight deck, here seen on Columbia,
third times and demonstrating that the relied on a lot of physical instrumentation despite
requirements for ascent were excessive.” the heavy involvement of computers in every
This latter point might have been aspect of the craft’s operation
inevitable, given the hardware
constrictions of the early 1970s. of the vehicle if a generic error in the PASS
software or other multiple errors should
The Shuttle’s computer cause a loss of vehicle control.”
NASA decided early on to use off-the-shelf
computers, eventually settling on IBM’s HAL
AP-1 because it was similar to the While the OS was built using assembly
computers used on the US space station, code, the Shuttle’s applications were
Skylab. By the time the Shuttle spec was compiled using HAL, a language that NASA
nailed down, the AP-1 had become the AP-101, had commissioned in the late 1960s. It
which later found its way into the B-51 and supplemented staples such as IF and FOR with
B-1B bombers. The latter of those had eight NASA-specific requests, such as WAIT and
computers onboard, but the Shuttle managed SCHEDULE, and accommodated multiple ways
with five, distributed around the fuselage so at of expressing identical formulae. Each line of
least a few would survive an explosion. with just one purpose: to bring the orbiter code could be written sequentially, in a single
Four of the computers ran in sync and safely back to Earth in an emergency. row, or split across three separate rows, with
voted on every action. If they disagreed, the “Because the ascent and entry phases the computer switching up and down the
option that received the most votes would of flight are so critical, four of the five stack of characters as it moved from column
prevail. This remains the accepted process for [primary computers] are loaded with the to column. This might sound complex, but it
making decisions in space. NASA engineer same PASS [Primary Avionics System allowed programmers to key formulae using
David Hammen explains how control of the Software] and perform … simultaneously regular, superscript and subscript characters
Russian segment of the International Space and redundantly,” explains the Shuttle by positioning the latter two on the rows
Station “comprises a pair of fault-tolerant Operations Manual, effectively the orbiter’s above or below the main line of code.
computers (each of which has three glove box guide for new owners. HAL might seem a strange name, given its
independent CPUs that operate by voting), “As a safety measure, the fifth [computer] association with Stanley Kubrick’s film, 2001: A
plus another pair of control post computers”. contains a different set of software, Space Odyssey. Some claim it was chosen in
The Shuttle’s fifth computer didn’t vote. programmed by a company different from honour of Hal Laning, who programmed the
Isolated, it ran separately coded software the PASS developer, designed to take control Apollo guidance computers, and the 2005

⬆ Although this is the Shuttle simulator, its interior matches that of a genuine ⬆ The Shuttle simulator was used not only for training astronauts, but also for
orbiter, including the three small screens that featured on the original flight deck beta-testing new builds of the orbiter’s operating system and applications
edition of the HAL language specification error apiece. Commercial programs of the fuel had already gone. This caused a counter
lends weight to this argument, stating that equivalent complexity would, Fishman said, to go beyond its accepted parameters and, not
HAL’s design “exhibits a number of influences, have contained around 5,000 errors. knowing what to do, the software locked up.
the greatest being the syntax of PL/1 and Yet the developers still found bugs now Rolling out new updates, therefore, wasn’t
ALGOL, and the two-dimensional format of and then, sometimes testing unlikely scenarios as simple as upgrading Windows, which is
MAC/360, [contributions to which] were made until something broke. One such bug that why NASA developed SAIL, the Shuttle
by Dr J Halcombe Laning.” could have harmed the crew was discovered Avionics Integration Laboratory: a replica of
NASA’s own Shuttle Operations Manual during tests run in advance of the orbiter’s the Shuttle and its computers.
has other ideas, stating categorically that second mission. According to NASA’s JSC Features, “it
HAL/S stands for High-order Assembly “One of the abort simulations they chose contain[ed] a 100%-accurate cockpit and
Language/Shuttle. to test is called a ‘Trans Atlantic abort’, which avionics system that played vital roles in the
Either way, 85% of Shuttle software was supposes that the crew can neither return to beta testing of the Shuttle [and was] the only
written in HAL, comprising “a body of two the launch site nor go into orbit. The objective mockup that allowed engineers to fully
million lines of comments, data declarations is to land in Spain after dumping some fuel. integrate the orbiter’s hardware with flight
and executable lines of code”. The crew was about to go into this dump software. [It] also served as a very realistic
sequence when all four of our flight computer flight simulator [with] the avionics data
Practically perfect in every way machines locked up,” explains Jack Clemons, collected from SAIL simulations being so
The code was remarkably clean. Writing in Fast Shuttle lead engineer. high fidelity that for all the flight computers
Company magazine, Charles Fishman said it was It turned out that the operation to dump knew, it was a real mission.”
“as perfect as human beings have achieved”. the fuel was coded to happen in stages, but
By 1996, it ran to 420,000 lines, the three most the routine that handled the second-stage Fully automated spaceflight
recent releases of which had contained one dump wasn’t taking into account that some of Very little of any flight was managed by
mission control. As Fishman outlined, “No
human pushes a button to make it happen,
no astronaut jockeys a joy stick… The
software gives the orders to gimbal the
main engines, executing the dramatic belly
roll the Shuttle does soon after it clears the
tower. The software throttles the engines to
make sure the craft doesn’t accelerate too
fast. It keeps track of where the Shuttle is,
orders the solid rocket boosters to fall away,
makes minor course corrections, and after
about 10 minutes, directs the Shuttle into
orbit more than 100 miles up.”
All of this was managed by the four
AP-101s, running at 480KHz. Although NASA
originally specified 64KB of memory for each
Shuttle, this was increased to 106KB prior to
launch. The operating system consumed 35KB,
leaving just over 70KB for applications, which
wasn’t enough. A full mission’s codebase ran
⬅ Shuttle launches were almost entirely automated

and controlled by the orbiter’s onboard computers.
Mission control staff would have spent a lot of
time enjoying the view

“With the coming
of the Space
Shuttle, it would
be possible for
many men and
women of many
nationalities to
fly as passengers”
to 700KB, which was split into chunks that the ⬆ The Return to Flight launch of the Space Shuttle give us in-house control. So if we needed to
astronauts loaded from tape. This process Discovery and its five-man crew from Pad 39B at the patch, adjust or adapt, we could.”
took minutes to complete, compounding John F Kennedy Space Center in September 1988 This should also make ISS more resilient:
complaints about the system’s complexity. something the Shuttle engineers didn’t need to
different spacecraft, but as its attention turned worry about in the pre-internet age. Kaspersky
User unfriendly towards the International Space Station, NASA Lab’s CEO Eugene Kaspersky revealed to the
By NASA’s calculations, astronauts executed switched to developing with Ada. Canberra Press Club that, before the switch,
13,000 keystrokes in a week-long Apollo More technologically accomplished than Russian cosmonauts had brought viruses to
moon landing, and the same number in those on the Shuttle, the ISS computers run ISS on their laptops, and they’d spread to
two-and-a-half days on the Shuttle, which a selection of operating systems. As NASA other computers. Fortunately, none was
never went to the moon and hadn’t, by then, instructor and flight controller Robert Frost serious, but it served as a wake-up call.
even docked with the ISS. explains, “The laptop used for telemetry and HAL isn’t dead, unlike its namesake in 2001,
The flight deck’s postcard-sized displays, commanding runs on Linux. The laptop used but chances of it returning to space are slim.
with 51 columns and 26 lines of text, were for procedures, tools, videoconferencing, “I don’t know of any way to run the PASS
barely adequate for something as complex as email, reference documents, internet and so HAL/S software or use the hardware today,”
the Shuttle. Worse, the four screens shared two on uses Windows.” wrote a former NASA contractor in 2017.
keyboards, so crew sometimes found Windows had previously played a larger “The OS isn’t interactive. It communicates
themselves working on the wrong display. role on ISS but, as Keith Chuvala of the United only with specific hardware, which nobody will
They weren’t QWERTY, but “10 numeral keys, Space Alliance – which runs the ISS’s onboard have or can get at home. Without a [display]
six letter keys, two algebraic keys, a decimal network – told the Linux Foundation, it and a flight key entry system, control sticks
key and 13 special function keys”. Commands switched to open source. ISS managers and hundreds of avionics switches/knobs, I
were input using HEX, rather than plain English. “migrated key functions from Windows to don’t see how to make this software usable.
When first developed, it was envisaged Linux because we needed an operating system Someone would need to make an emulation
that HAL would be adapted to multiple that was stable and reliable – one that would layer… [I] suppose it could be done.”

KEEPING
IT
AI,DRONESANDSENSORSARE
BEINGPUTTOGOODUSETOSTOP
POACHINGANDPROTECTWILDLIFE
HABITATS.MADELINEBENNETT
WILD
INVESTIGATES
T
he technology sector has a lot to answer for when it comes to
detrimental effects on our planet and resources: overflowing
landfill sites filled up with our discarded smartphones, tablets
and computers; scarred landscapes, a by-product of industrial
mining for minerals such as cobalt and tantalum needed to
manufacture our electronics; and the pollution from coal-
powered plants where our devices are made.
Fortunately, there are also many examples where technology is
giving back, with various projects aimed at protecting the
environment through preventing poaching and stopping the
disappearance of endangered species.
116
117
TURNING THE TABLES ABOVE: Technology South African technology firm known poachers from gaining access
Poaching is one of the biggest threats is helping to protect Dimension Data has been working with through the front door.
to wildlife, driven by the black market endangered rhino communications specialist Cisco since All the data gathered is sent to the
for animal products used in traditional from poachers 2015 to tackle the poaching problem, rangers’ smartphone or tablet via a
medicines and trinkets. Elephant and after a private reserve in South Africa radio network, which can reach rangers
OPPOSITE TOP:
rhino are prime targets for armed – which was losing a rhino every week across the entire park. Phase two of
Staff use Dimension
gangs, who hunt down the animals and to poachers – requested help. this project has seen the time it takes
Data tech to monitor
hack off their tusks and horns. Poaching a game reserve in Traditional anti-poaching methods for a ranger to receive a report decrease
has become a highly professional South Africa involve putting a collar on the animal or from 30 to seven minutes, meaning
endeavor, with millions of dollars to be injecting a tracker in its horn. However, they have a much better chance of
made from illegal sales. Where in the both of these methods involve darting getting to the poachers before any
past, poachers were equipped with a and sedation, causing the animal stress animals are killed or injured.
machete, individuals now come into and potentially endangering its life; The project has been a huge success
BELOW: Intel’s
national parks and wildlife reserves many forest elephants die after being so far. In 2015, 54 rhinos were killed by
Anna Bethke and
across Africa armed with assault Resolve’s Eric
darted, as if they slip and fall awkwardly poachers at the South African park; in
weapons, and are often flown in across Dinerstein hide a when they run off into the bush, it can 2017, not one rhino lost its life.
borders to carry out attacks. TrailGuard AI anti- crush their internal organs. Dimension Data and Cisco are now
Luckily, technology is helping to foil poaching camera Dimension Data and Cisco decided rolling out similar projects in parks in
these efforts. system in a tree to approach the problem from a Kenya, Zambia and Mozambique, aimed
different
diff perspective: the at protecting rhino and elephant.
humans.
hum The firms set Ruth Rowan, Dimension Data’s
up a network of sensors chief marketing officer, is personally
on the fences around invested in this project, as a biologist
the park and placed by academic training and a keen
seismic
sei sensors on the conservationist. She is optimistic
ground,
gro which set off about the role of the technology
an alert if the fence is sector in protecting our planet.
cut or someone comes “Many of us in the company are
in from underneath. passionate conservationists. We also
Thermal imaging just recognise a real problem in the
cameras were placed world, that certain animals are very
at certain points along much at risk of becoming extinct,
the fence. If motion is and we believe that technology can
detected, they show help solve that problem and protect
how many people are animals from poachers. That’s really
present, their location been our motivation in getting
and the direction in involved,” she explains.
which they are heading. “There is a lot of debate at the
Number-plate and moment that technology in some
facial-recognition instances is potentially creating
technology at the more risk – the misuse of data or
gates also prevents speculation around the manipulation

Photo: Walden Kirsch/Intel
of the data in the social media space to Resolve plans to provide TrailGuard ABOVE LEFT: LJMU, believes there is a vital need to
influence people – but we believe that camera systems to national parks, The internal gather more accurate wildlife data, to
technology is here to make the world a conservation groups and scientists in workings of the help understand whether numbers are
better place in the broadest sense. It’s 100 reserves across Africa this year. TrailGuard AI dropping due to habitat destruction,
just got to be used responsibly.” The organisation will then expand the poaching or other factors.
ABOVE RIGHT:
project to Southeast Asia and South However, current animal-counting
HIDE AND SEEK America, aided by support from Intel,
The Astro-Ecology
Group at Liverpool
methods based on field trips or even
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another the National Geographic Society and John Moores using cameras attached to drones
technology being turned to protecting the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. University are aren’t up to the job. Captured footage
wildlife. Non-profit organisation Resolve working on a drone still requires manual intervention,
has recently launched TrailGuard AI, a UP IN THE STARS camera system to with someone sat at a computer
security camera system that can be It’s not just computing companies such identify animals behind the scenes receiving the
hidden from poachers thanks to its as Intel and Cisco that are turning their images, deciding whether there are
small size, about the size of an index attention to the role of technology in any animals present, and then
finger. Human-detection algorithms run protecting vulnerable species. The counting and recording the results.
directly from an Intel-based processor Astro-Ecology Group at the “This is quite labour-intensive.
in the camera head, and the device Astrophysics Research Institute, What we really want is something
boasts a battery life of a year and a half. Liverpool John Moores University where we can take an image, put it on
The AI aspect of the camera means (LJMU), is working on a data-gathering to a computer, and have the computer
that rangers are only alerted when project for wildlife conservation, label the image for us, which would
motion is detected that has a risk of centred around building a computer save us going through thousands of
poaching. As an elephant is killed every system capable of identifying animals images ourselves,” Veitch-Michaelis
15 minutes by a poacher – equivalent to in real time on a drone. explained at a recent STEM event
around 35,000 elephants each year – With less than half as many wild hosted by the British International
this more accurate alerting system is animals now as there were 30 years Education Association.
vital to ensuring rangers are directing ago, Dr Josh Veitch-Michaelis, Using normal cameras can also lead
their efforts to the right places. postdoctoral research assistant at to false detections – a rock might look

like a rhino, for example – and can lead They are training the system to
to overestimating the population. identify and label animals in images,
The Astro-Ecology Group of rewarding correct classifications,
ecologists, astrophysicists, computer penalising incorrect or missing data,
scientists, engineers and drone pilots and then modifying the model for
at LJMU are bringing together each batch of images processed
computing and astronomy techniques based on these results.
to solve these problems. This work is supported by people-
The team are using FLIR thermal- powered research site Zooniverse. Its
imaging cameras attached to drones one million-plus users are encouraged
that process visual data via a heat map, to scour the same heat-map images
making it much easier to differentiate the computer has looked at, to check
animals that radiate heat from a stone that the results are accurate.
cold rock. The results are much more “This is what we think the future of
reliable, and better still, this system can ecology is. We want to build these
also be used for spotting poachers. systems to rapidly classify thousands
But even with this advanced TOP/ABOVE: suck up a lot of student time, or require of pictures, and ideally we want this
camera technology, there is still Drones are helping paying people to carry out the task for running on a drone itself. Our goal is to
potential for false detections. to preserve wildlife millions of images. The Astro-Ecology build a system that can do animal
Veitch-Michaelis added: “Animal and prevent illegal Group is instead using a combination of identification live on a drone.
activity on land
waste is the same temperature as the machine learning and citizen science, “We can’t assume we have enough
and at sea
animal. When you’re looking at a based on a custom-built AI system. bandwidth to stream live, high-
drone-based video it’s quite easy to “We’re experimenting with resolution images back to the ground.
see these bright spots and think Raspberry Pis to capture and process We need to do the processing in the
that could be a human, and it’s not. data, along with Nvidia GPUs for training air; this is particularly important for
We need ways of identifying these our models. We use some common applications such as anti-poaching
false detections.” frameworks like the Robot Operating where you can’t wait to process the
This is where AI comes in. To System, OpenCV and Pytorch/ data later,” Veitch-Michaelis explained.
accurately label an image showing Tensorflow, but the software on top is “The system we want doesn’t exist
hundreds of heat dots would normally all custom,” Veitch-Michaelis said. and we’re trying to build something that

ABOVE: Scientists use heat-mapping “Plus, the British patrol boat is
technology to differentiate between animals, massive and orange, so unfortunately
humans and inanimate objects it’s really easy to spot. If you’re an illegal
vessel doing something a bit cheeky,
is reasonably priced and could be you can cut your lines and steam off
replicated by other researchers. We very quickly before perhaps we have
don’t have a definitive system yet.” even detected you on the radar, which
is 12 nautical miles. So having a drone
ALL AT SEA that can fly beyond that range gives us
While drones are well established as a bit of an advantage if you’re looking
handy tools for capturing images, one for illegal activities in the area.”
thing they generally require is a level Early tests indicated the potential
surface to land on. This is fine for for these drones both to survey marine
monitoring land-based wildlife such life and tackle illegal fishing. The
as chimps and rhino, but what about cameras have managed to capture clear
water dwellers? images of stingrays, turtles and
Melissa Schiele, an MSc student manatees in protected areas. And most
from Imperial College London, is part importantly, the UAVs have managed to
of a ZSL team trying to solve this land successfully on the water.
problem with a specially designed There are limits to their use: the
water-landing drone, aimed at both drones can’t be flown during bad
the study of marine ecology and weather, and have suffered from water
maritime surveillance. leaks, meaning lots of overnight
The amphibious Aeromapper Talon soldering work for Schiele and her team.
is a waterproofed fixed-wing unmanned The early tests also revealed the
aerial vehicle (UAV) with a two-metre importance of a higher-quality camera
wingspan that’s capable of flying long to crack down on illegal activity.
distances with the strength, stability “The camera resolution was just a
and mechanisms of a small plane. little bit too low to be able to detect the
The drones each have two cameras: a identification on the side of vessels. So
12-megapixel camera attached to the example, illegal fishing affecting the ABOVE: Melissa we now know that we need a much
belly of the fuselage, which takes a populations of fishes,” Schiele explains. Schiele is part of better camera. However, we were able
picture every second; and one in the Water-landing drones could be a team developing – at 65 metres – to detect the fishing
clear nose cone, which allows for live invaluable in turning round this a water-landing gear in the water, which is super
drone to study
streaming of the drone flight to a situation, offering a way to monitor vast important and essential for
marine ecology and
screen used by the drone pilot. expanses of ocean without needing to prosecution,” Schiele explains.
help with maritime
Schiele travelled to British Indian send out boats or people, and to capture surveillance (top)
“We know that once the drone is
Ocean Territory last year to test out this information about illegal activity. fully waterproof in the next iteration,
drone across the Chagos Archipelago, “The British government polices it’s going to be a very powerful tool in
a protected region. While the vast this water with one patrol vessel, and ecology and surveillance. And the
majority of our seas and oceans are that same vessel has to do all the important thing about this drone is that
unprotected and unregulated, only 3.7% scientific expeditions as well. So you it’s easy to use, and it’s cheap. Most
of those areas actually designated as can imagine when we’re trying to go water-landing fixed-wing drones that
marine-protected are actively managed. out and do all of our science, the are in existence are in the oil and gas
“Marine-protected areas are places capacity for enforcement does drop industry, and they’re really expensive.
where you don’t get fishing or it’s ever so slightly. So any solution that So most ecologists can’t afford them,
heavily restricted. There are lots of can increase the enforcement capacity let alone marine-protected area
issues and problems that we face; for is readily welcome,” Schiele says. managers in developing nations.”

Oh blimey!
Inside the head of
Photo: Phil Fletcher

Frank Sidebottom
Chris Sievey was best known for his alter ego Frank Sidebottom, but his stabs at
computer programming were not at all bobbins, as David Crookes discovers
M
usic history is packed with surreal the Girl on the Manchester Virgin Megastore from The Freshies to pursue a solo career,
moments, but the time when a Checkout Desk, which reached the heights he released a 7in vinyl single called
little-known punk band’s lead singer of number 54 in the UK charts. Camouflage, a typically 1980s slice of rock
was interviewed by a fictional character with a The character, meanwhile, was Frank that came with three ZX81 computer
papier-mâché head on the B-side of a ZX Sidebottom, a wide-eyed, nasal-voiced programs on the B-side.
Spectrum game has to rank rather highly. oddball from Timperley who had been When placed on a record player, listeners
That singer was Chris Sievey, face of The dreamed up to help promote a new game would hear the familiar screeching sound of a
Freshies, whose biggest hit came in 1980 called The Biz, which Sievey had written over loading cassette program, and inputting that
with the fantastic anthem I’m In Love With the course of 18 months. noisy data into a computer would unleash the
Frank was perpetually 35, lived with his magic and genius of Mr Sievey.
Photo: Dave Arnold
mum, spent most of his time in his shed For as well as there being two games
and dreamed of making it in showbusiness. written by Sievey – Flying Train for 16K ZX81s
Good things were ‘fantastic’, rubbish stuff and a short version of the game’s first stage
was ‘bobbins’, and he had a host of other for 1K ZX81s entitled FT (neither of which
catchphrases, from ‘thank you’ to ‘oh were mind-blowing) – the record also
blimey!’, and various riffs on ‘you know included an innovative computer-coded
it is, it really is’, which he’d use to finish animated music video.
off his numerous tunes. When the program was run on a ZX81, it
“For Chris, computing was a new would prompt the user to pop the vinyl on
horizon to be conquered,” explains Steve to the record player, position the needle and
Sullivan, director of Being Frank: The Chris wait for the opening note of music, at which
Sievey Story, which was released in cinemas stage they could press any key to sync the
earlier this year to rave reviews. “When program with the song. The lyrics would
home computers came along I imagine then flash up on the screen and animations
he saw them as just the next medium would appear in time to the beat, creating a
through which he could express computer-driven music video.
himself in an obscure way.” It was the first time anyone had put
computer code on to a musical release
HISTORY IS ACE (arguably inspiring Radiohead to pop 30 lines
Sievey’s experiments with of code on the tape version of the 20th
computer programming anniversary release of OK Computer in 2017).
began in 1983 when, Sievey had even inadvertently created the first
having taken a break ever budget game, since the single only set
shoppers back a pound at a time when
games cost more than a fiver.
⬅ Frank Sidebottom with his
big head, which was originally “Chris seemed to think without limitations,
made from papier-mâché and and he certainly didn’t seem to consider
later from fibreglass practical considerations or ever to ask
122
RETRO
➡ A flyer promoting Chris

Sievey’s 1983 ‘computer game
– pop single’ Camouflage
the question ‘Why not?’,”

says Sullivan.
“This kind of thinking led
to him being a fearless
innovator – fearless as he
never seemed to worry
about failure, and many of
his ideas were pretty
obscure even in hindsight.
By putting a computer-
coded music video and
computer games on a
B-side of a 7in single, he
was trying to achieve
something that would now
be possible at the press of
one button. But the fact
that it was there to be done
would be good enough for
Chris, and all the motivation
he would have needed.”
It certainly appeared
that way because, despite
the song flopping and too
few people getting to enjoy the experience, says. “The Biz is a moment where
Sievey wasn’t afraid to keep going. And so both lives start to blend together,
it was that he had the idea for The Biz, just before Frank Sidebottom as a
which grew out of an early idea to devise character takes over completely.”
a Monopoly-style board game based on Retailing for £5.95 and
the music business. published by Virgin Games, the
title oozed charm and gave a
SHOWBIZ IS FANTASTIC warts-and-all look at the climb
Sievey had decided that his game would to pop stardom via balance
work better on a computer as a strategy sheets and option menus. It had
simulation that tasked players with trying become a labour of love,
to become a top-selling pop star. He got to drawing on Sievey’s own music industry ⬆ Flying Train was Chris Sievey’s first
work coding it in Basic, fitting it around experience to allow players to interact with effort at producing a commercial game. It was
recording tracks, trying to break into the managers, solicitors and agents while looking released on the B-side of his single Camouflage
Top 40 and gigging, having borrowed a 48K to secure small gigs, recording songs, getting
Photo: Dave Arnold
ZX Spectrum from a friend. airplay and working out the expenditure

“He was actually in a very interesting space involved. The musical extras and the WINNING IS BOBBINS
between his career as Chris Sievey and his interviews made for a fantastic package. The game has numerous quirks. If the player
emerging career as Frank Sidebottom,” Sullivan “It’s a mad mix of stuff to put out and takes drugs, for instance, the screen becomes
certainly
cer not what an early 1980s gamer unreadable. There was even a prize for the
would
wou have been expecting,” says first person to get a number one single in the
Sullivan.
Sul “They wouldn’t have really game: a chance to record with Sievey and
known
kno who Chris Sievey or The Freshies appear on stage at a Freshies gig.
were,
wer let alone this brand new character “When we were making Being Frank, a
called
cal Frank Sidebottom, who at the programmer in Las Vegas went through his
time
tim wouldn’t have been on telly yet. computer games,” Sullivan says. “He took a
“So it was Chris’s own obscure joke look at the code for The Biz and reported back
still,
sti and presumably most of his own that as far as he could tell it was actually
fans
fa at the time wouldn’t have been coded in such a way as to be impossible for
into computers. But Chris loved anyone to get to number one in the record
obscurity, I think, and I don’t think charts within the game. If that’s true, then
he’d have been bothered at all to think Chris must have programmed it deliberately
only a handful of people would have like that. He’d been unable to top the charts
really understood that cassette.” with his own music, so why should you?”
If this is indeed the case then, as Sullivan
⬅ Frank Sidebottom and his puppet points out, it would in many ways make for an
creation Little Frank appear on stage autobiographical computer game: a statement

RETRO
⬆➡ The Biz was a warts-and-all

computer game based on the music
industry, in which players attempted
to make it as a pop star
by him as an artist about his feelings on the

music business. Sadly, however, The Biz
marked the end of Sievey’s foray into ⬆ The critically acclaimed documentary Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story is available to download or
commercial games development. to buy on DVD and Blu-ray
While he told Crash magazine that he had
another three machine code games in the hand-made characters such as Little Frank released a host of singles, albums and
pipeline and Sullivan says Sievey created a sporting flat cardboard bodies and bulging compilations, and began drawing for the
prototype game for a single he never released heads, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Mrs satirical kids’ comic Oink!. It was in that
called Let’s Go Space City (“We found a level Merton, played by Caroline Aherne, who went publication that the world saw Sievey’s
one demo where you have to get to a on to make the character her own. programming output once more.
spaceship, but once you board it the game Frank headed the Oh Blimey Big Band,
ends,” says Sullivan, who said it looked which included the radio DJ Mark Radcliffe, A PROGRAMMING BONANZA
promising), there were no more releases. journalist Jon Ronson and Chris Evans, Issue 42 of the Spectrum-focused Crash
But then Frank was by now assuming a life covering artists such as Queen and Kylie magazine came with a free 16-page Oink!
all of his own. Sievey would wear Frank’s head Minogue with quirky songs played on a Casio comic supplement and Sievey – as Frank –
and adopt his creation’s persona, eventually synthesiser. He had guest slots on ITV’s contributed two pages of computers programs
concocting an entire world around him, with Saturday morning children’s show No 73, for Spectrum owners to type in. By now, he’d
walk-’em-ups such SEGA MEGA DRIVE

as Everybody’s Gone MINI ON ITS WAY
to the Rapture An official, long-awaited new
rather than try to version of the classic 16-bit Mega
REVOLUTIONISING shoehorn a Drive console will finally find its
POINT-AND-CLICK point-and-click way to retail on 19th September,
ADVENTURES interface into 3D, according to Sega. The company
Revolution has made its name ensuring the game says the Mega Drive Mini will
developing iconic point-and-click – which will feature 40 built-in games
adventures such as Beneath a PC and console versions. reacquaint players with the including Altered Beast, Ecco the
Steel Sky and the long-running Developed by Revolution’s engineer Robert Foster – will Dolphin, Earthworm Jim, Space
Broken Sword series. Most of founder Charles Cecil, the game’s look and feel very different. Harrier II, Dr Robotnik’s Mean
the titles have been created in lead designer, and comics artist It’s certainly shaping up to be
e Bean Machine and Sonic the
2D, but a handful made the leap Dave ‘Watchmen’ Gibbons, an interesting release, one that is Hedgehog. It willll come
ewwith two
to 3D, with mixed results (we’re Beyond a Steel Sky hopes to set to explore social control and three-button controllers and be
looking at you, Broken Sword: introduce a whole new audience privacy and draw upon George e connectable to a TV via HDMI.
The Angel of Death). to the theme of the original Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Interesting, then, that a 3D cyberpunk classic. If you want to see what all
sequel of sorts to 1994’s Beneath In doing so, Revolution will the fuss is about, then check
a Steel Sky is set to be released make a standalone game that out the original for free at tinyurl.
on the new gaming subscription can be played without any prior com/377retro1 – otherwise, you
service Apple Arcade for iOS, knowledge of the previous title. can wait for the sequel’s release
macOS and tvOS, followed by It will also be inspired by later this year.
124 JUL 2019

JULY | COMPUTER
COMPUT
COM PPER | ISSUE
PUTER SHOPPER
SHOPPE
SHO ISS 377
RETRO
➡ Issue 42 of Crash magazine for the

Spectrum came with a pull-out of Oink!
comic, which included two pages of
computer code by Frank Sidebottom
consigned the ZX81 to the bin (“it only

does black and white, and black and
white TV went out about 150 years
ago,” he wrote). He also showed
readers how to make a computer: just
grab a typewriter, a TV and a load of
wire for “those fiddly bits inside”.
The programs included a seven-liner
called Amoeba Rescue, two lines of
code by Little Frank and another game
dubbed The Charming Eggtimer, which
was billed as a “brilliant program
specifically with the young lady in mind
offering domestic usefulness with a hintt
of romance and a chinwag mate” (hmm).mm).
The Charming Eggtimer and Amoeba ba
Rescue came with cut-out tape inlays and
there were some fantastic facts to be
had. “If all the home computers in the
world were laid out on the M1 motorway, ay,
mine would still be on the sideboard as I
wouldn’t chance taking it as it could rain and “The Little Frank game is a repeated
the M1 has no roof,” read one. “Did you know display just saying ‘l.f. is better than f.s. = true’
computers are taking over the world (there’s which is Little Frank declaring to the world diagnosed with cancer. Virtually penniless,
two in our street),” read another. he’s better than big Frank. It’s absurd and fans raised £21,631.55 for his funeral and a
“In Amoeba Rescue, you have to put your like a psychodrama in Basic, but it was just huge memorial was staged in Manchester,
finger on the screen and guess which pixel is Chris channeling his own mixed relationship attracting 5,000 people.
going to be suddenly made visible,” says with Frank, who in turn is channeling his But while neither Chris nor Frank had ever
Sullivan of the quirky nature of the games. relationship in turn with his puppet. Or maybe quite reached megastardom, TV work such as
“If your finger is on the pixel, you docked it really was just Little Frank speaking from Frank Sidebottom’s Fantastic Shed Show, his
with and rescued the amoeba. the heart. It was bizarre.” music and comedy gigs made him a cult
“The Charming Eggtimer was basically an It certainly was. Sadly, Sievey (and Frank) favourite. His foray into programming was
eggtimer for ladies to help them when they’re died in 2010 aged 54, having collapsed at his one small part of all of that but, oh blimey,
boiling them fantastic eggs. home in Hale, Greater Manchester, after being we can only say… Thank you.
Although firm ZX Spectrum has been “They were 2564 ROMs the Commodore Amiga and the
technical details have handed to a museum rather than the normal 2764 game Dizzy without troubling
not been unveiled, the in Cambridge. The ROMs, which delayed us a bit your pocket too much.
£70 machine appears computer, owned by but we’ve been checking the To grab copies of the books,
faithful to the original, the company that circuits and powering it up visit tinyurl.com/377retro2 and
right down to a created the Basic to see what it does,” add the ones you want to your
headphone volume controller. programming language for Fitzpatrick tells us. cart before checking out to
What’s more, M2, the developer the ZX80 and ZX81, is thought “It’s an exciting addition to receive your download links.
behind Sega Ages – a series of to date back to July 1981 the collection and lots of people Most of the books have been
video game ports, remakes and and features a different have been desperate to see it.” written by Chris
compilations published by Sega configuration to the version Wilkins and the
– is creating the software for the that was released to the public DELVE INTO former editor of
device, so it should be in safe in April the following year. GAMING’S HISTORY Crash and
hands. Pre-orders are being Donated to the Centre for Fusion Retro Books has released Zzap!64
taken now, with Sega hoping that Computing History (www. a good number of tomes about magazines,
demand
dem will outstrip that of the computinghistory.org.uk), which video-gaming history, covering Roger M Kean,
top-selling
to NES Classic Mini. has just become fully accredited some of the most iconic and they’re
by the UK Arts Council, the developers, publishers and a great
PROTOTYPE ZX machine is now on display. computers of yesteryear. It has trip down
SPECTRUM PUT The museum’s technicians have now made some of those books memory lane.
ON DISPLAY also dumped and preserved the available as PDFs for free or for There are a number of
Having languished in a cupboard ROMs, according to its founder as little as £1, letting you read all retro magazines to be had
for decades, a prototype Sinclair Jason Fitzpatrick. about Ocean Software, US Gold, for a quid, too.

Helpfile &
BusinessHelp
Whatever your PC, hardware, software, office application
or macro issues, Simon Handby is here to help
Send your problems to [email protected]
Hibernope
A couple of months ago, you helped
me recover data from my old
network-attached storage (NAS)
drive after I unintentionally deleted
a volume (Helpfile, Shopper 375).
I’m very happy with my new
Synology DS218j, except that the
disks never seem to power down.
In DiskStation Manager, I used
Control Panel’s Power settings to
configure hibernation. When that
didn’t work, I created a power
schedule to turn off the NAS
between midnight and 6am. That
works, but it’s not ideal: it means
we have to schedule updates and
SMART tests for when we’re using
the NAS, and that we’ll need to turn
it on manually if we ever need it
during the middle of the night. ⬆ Some NAS services, or apps such as Surveillance Station, need the disks to stay on
We’ve got a typical home
network where most of the PCs and devices menu), which will confirm if and when the which can appear to keep devices awake; you
are unused most of the time, and almost NAS is ever waking up from hibernation. might experiment with disabling these.
everything except the printer gets turned If the log shows the NAS is hibernating If the NAS does hibernate when everything
off overnight. The NAS is only used for overnight, but not during the day, it’s likely else is turned off, try progressively leaving
occasional media streaming and a weekly that one of your devices is keeping it awake, more equipment on overnight until you find
backup, so I was hoping it would hibernate which is broadly what you want. If it’s never that it no longer hibernates. This should let
the rest of the time. Can you help? hibernating, try turning off every network- you narrow down the problem to a particular
Dean Harris connected device except your NAS overnight, device or group of devices. The only sure way
then reviewing the logs the following to discover the source of network packets
It shouldn’t matter if a NAS doesn’t hibernate, morning to see if the disks hibernated at that keep the NAS awake would be to
particularly if it has specialised NAS hard any point. If not, it would suggest that the configure a packet sniffer on its network
disks, which are designed to work NAS itself is running an app or service that port. We believe this is possible with the
continuously for several years. That said, keeps it awake. The Synology knowledge DS218j by using a remote SSH session to
hibernation reduces noise, power consumption base page at tinyurl.com/377helpfile1 lists configure the tcpdump command, but it’s
and heat output, so it’s a shame not to use it. some common suspects. very involved to set up.
Two classes of event may be preventing Another alternative in this scenario is More generally, remember that PCs and
the NAS hibernating: services or applications that your router is either regularly polling the network traffic can behave in surprising ways.
running on the NAS itself, and requests local network, or that it’s forwarding internet When researching our answer to this question,
originating on the network. To shed light on traffic to the NAS. If you can’t find a culprit we discovered that if we started typing a local
things, you should enable hibernation logging on the NAS itself, log into your router and IP address (such as 192.168.0.12) into the
in DiskStation Manager: open Control Panel, check that you haven’t configured any Chrome browser’s omnibox, its prediction
switch to Advanced Mode if you’re not inbound firewall or service rules that service began preemptively contacting the
already in it, and select Hardware & Power direct traffic to the NAS’s network address. web admin interfaces on our network. As
from under the System heading. Select the We’d recommend disabling uPNP in all cases these included our test NAS, the result was
HDD Hibernation tab, tick Enable hibernation unless it’s absolutely necessary, but we’ve that our NAS woke up for no apparent reason
logs then click Apply. Now you can periodically encountered other router services such as each time we reviewed our router’s settings to
check the Log Center (found on the main IGMP (internet group management protocol), see if they were waking up the NAS.

HELPFILE & BUSINESS HELP
Old video, new tricks Taming the

One of the projects I have
in mind for my imminent
retirement is to digitise
taskbar
and edit lots of old family It’s great that Windows is so much
videos, which exist in better at organising taskbar icons
various old formats such as these days; I remember a brand new
Sony Video8 tapes. XP laptop with 10 of them already
I am just about to invest sprawling across the taskbar.
in a decent PC that will However, while Windows 7 and
cope with the task. I’m Windows 8 let you click the arrow
wondering whether next to the Notification Area to
modern video-editing customise the displayed icons,
suites have video- Windows 10 seems to decide for itself.
enhancing features built in I’m missing a couple of important icons;
that could address some of where can I choose which ones to show?
the colour bleed that you Sandy Nicholson
get on these older formats.
Alternatively, is there In its wisdom, Microsoft removed the
dedicated software ⬆ Simply fixing the white balance and applying auto levels can do Customise option with Windows 10,
that can achieve this? wonders to improve old footage but you can still choose which icons
My initial investigations you want to see in the Taskbar.
have drawn a bit of a blank, colour temperature in the scene; in most Right-click the Taskbar, choose
so any help would be much appreciated. cases, this will work wonders. Taskbar Settings and scroll down to
Gary Harris If the results still need work, you could Select which icons appear on the Taskbar,
make a basic attempt to fix unwanted colours which is under the Notification area
It’s hard to know exactly what you mean by editing the shadow, highlight and midpoint heading. Use the toggle switches to
by colour bleed, but we assume you’re values of a selected colour channel, but a choose which are shown or hidden.
noticing either colour fringes around sharp more advanced approach would be to target
areas of contrast, or a more general wash of a specific problem hue and replace it with
colour across the image from one region to the right one, using a tool such as the
another. The former (chromatic aberration) Color Replace effect in Adobe Premiere.
is usually caused by the camera lens, while Remember to define the edits on a frame
the latter can occur due to the limitations where the problem is most pronounced, and
of analogue video. If possible, adjust the use and animate a mask if necessary to avoid
settings on your playback device to get the altering colours in other parts of the shot.
best video for capture. It may take some experimentation to find
Unfortunately, we’re not aware of a an approach you can use quickly to fix a range
video-editing suite with an automatic and of footage, and sometimes it’s easiest to
simple tool for dealing with aberration, follow a video tutorial. We found a useful
but good packages include filters for introduction to removing chromatic aberration
correcting colour, which you can combine on CreativeCow.net at tinyurl.com/377helpfile2.
with masks to tackle more localised Although it uses Adobe After Effects, the ⬆ You can still hide or show taskbar icons; the
problems. We’d start by applying a white principles would be the same in Adobe settings are just better hidden in Windows 10
balance correction to get the right overall Premiere or other suites with similar features.
Cut the spam

I’m trying to reduce the amount spam ➡ Akismet’s Personal plan lets
that I get from a simple enquiry form you name your price, or even use
on my website, since I’m in danger of it for free
deleting genuine enquiries among the
flood of rubbish. Our first question is whether it’s
I found a simple php script to practical to use a mailbox rule to
generate a bot-unfriendly question filter out all the messages with
with the form, but it only does half the the wrong answer. If not, you
job, and emails with the wrong answer could edit the php script, but
still come through. As a temporary you’d get a more sophisticated
measure I’ve added a box that must be and tunable solution with a
filled with a number, rather than text, specialised plug-in.
but ideally I’d like to tweak the code We’ve used Akismet to
so that only emails with the correct reduce spam comments on WordPress find the full list at tinyurl.com/377helpfile3.
answer are sent. Can you help? blogs, and it’s available for multiple If your site is non-commercial, you’ll be
Steve other systems and platforms; you can able to use Akismet for free.

HELPFILE & BUSINESS HELP
UEFI champions
I’ve got an ageing Dell Vostro notebook
that, for the past couple of years, I’ve
barely been using. I reinstalled it from
scratch ahead of giving it to my daughter.
I installed Windows 10 from a USB disk
created by the Windows Media Creation
Tool, but I could only get the computer to
recognise it in legacy boot mode. Once the
install finished, Windows wouldn’t boot if
I switched back to UEFI mode. I assume
I’ve got to install from within UEFI mode
to be able to run Windows in UEFI mode,
but there’s no USB option on the UEFI
boot list. Is there a way around it?
C Masterson
The first thing to check is that you’re using a

FAT32-formatted USB stick. You can find out by ⬆ You may need to add a USB option to the computer’s UEFI boot menu
right-clicking it in File Explorer and choosing
Properties. Assuming you are, boot into the opens, use USB for Boot Option Name, then The computer should now restart in UEFI
laptop’s setup menu using F2, navigate to the make sure that the complex-looking entry mode and boot from an inserted USB stick,
Boot tab and check the options under UEFI under File System List ends with USB. If not, but you may need to return to the Boot tab in
boot. If you don’t see a USB drive in this list, select the field using tab, then use the up and Setup and move the USB option up the order
you’ll need to add it. Ensure that Boot List down arrows to scroll through any options. of devices. Complete the installation, remove
Option is set to UEFI, then underneath it Leave the File Name blank, select Yes to save, the USB drive, then you should be running
select Add Boot Option. In the dialog that then press F10 to exit and save your changes. WIndows 10 with the laptop still in UEFI mode.
Unpublished work
I read with interest your recent article on Microsoft Access
alternatives (‘Losing Access’, Shopper 375), and wondered
whether you could suggest any alternatives to Microsoft’s
desktop publishing program, Publisher.
I used Publisher very occasionally, and when my old
laptop died and needed replacing, I didn’t want to buy a new
version of Office just for that. I’m using LibreOffice instead.
Recently, however, I have come across a .pub file that I would
like to use. It opened in Draw, but I can only see its text; the
pictures aren’t there. Can you help me find a way to fix it?
Ron Duncan
⬆ If you still have Publisher, re-install it and edit or export the document
The first question is whether you still have the media and licence for
your old copy of Office, which is likely to work perfectly on your new
computer. Assuming you don’t, you’ll probably need to convert
the .pub file; we’re not aware of any other apps that can open and
work with such content.
Fortunately, this should be fairly easy using www.zamzar.com, which
will convert Publisher files to various formats, including PDF and .docx.
⬆ ZamZar’s free conversions are a useful way to access old files without You’ll lose some of the Publisher-specific information, but you should
the need for old software retain your text, images and the approximate layout.

Advanced
Projects
Clive Webster has been tinkering with computers ever since
Windows 98 forced him to manually install his drivers
[email protected]
Use a
password
manager
Using strong and unique
passwords for each website
and service we use is
impossible – no-one’s memory
is that good. Thankfully,
Clive Webster can show you
a secure alternative
THE ADVICE FROM all the security experts is to use a
different password for each and every website and
service you use, as well as your computers and mobile
devices. And these passwords can’t just be ‘p455w0rd’
or some variation; they need to be at least 12
characters long, with strange symbols and oddly
placed capitals. Who could possibly remember all that?
Password managers offer a simple solution,
essentially acting as a safe, storing all your passwords
locked securely by one master password. Usefully,
these applications now offer all kinds of other security-
related extras, and most have a free option.

ADVANCED PROJECTS
THERE ARE DOZENS of password managers

to choose from, but we’re going to focus on
the best free service. Other services have
some interesting features or additions, but
LastPass Free includes everything necessary
for most people’s needs. If you want a bit of
extra security, Dashlane’s paid-for service is
only $40 (around £30) a year and has some
very interesting and useful extras. Both of
these services also have multi-user options
for businesses and organisations for around
£3 per user per month.
While Dashlane also offers a free service,
it lacks one killer ability that LastPass Free
possesses: syncing. As Dashlane’s free
service doesn’t synchronise your saved and
stored passwords, it’s only useful for
single-device users, and that’s a very small
number of people these days. LastPass Free
synchronises across multiple devices, so
you’ll have access to your passwords on
your PC, your laptop, your phone, your
tablet and your smartwatch. Usefully,
LastPass Free can also store secure notes,
credit cards, passport details, driver’s licence
details, your National Insurance number and
insurance policy details. That should reduce
the need to hunt through your files and desk
drawers for paperwork.
⬆ It’s so easy to import your passwords from Chrome into LastPass that it might be worth using Chrome
NO MORE POST-IT PASSWORDS when importing your passwords from Firefox, Edge and Internet Explorer
Depending on the device you’re using,
LastPass operates either as a web browser passwords; click the link to download this Chrome, import your passwords from your
extension (or add-on) or an app (free for iOS, version. Once downloaded, launch this favourite browser, follow the instructions
Android and Windows Phone). It’s easiest application and follow the instructions. above and then uninstall Chrome.
to set up LastPass on a PC or laptop, as As LastPass imports passwords so easily If installing Chrome only to uninstall it
you can import your passwords from your from Chrome, and Chrome can import a few minutes later sounds silly, there are
current web browser. Each browser has its passwords very easily from Firefox, Edge and other methods of extracting your saved
own quirks as to how it stores your Internet Explorer, it might be easiest to install passwords from non-Chrome browsers.
passwords, so importing your However, some browsers
passwords is very different make this easier than
for Firefox, Opera, Edge, others. For example,
Chrome and Safari. Firefox has no export
Google’s Chrome has a option. Instead, you’ll
built-in password manager need to download the
module, which LastPass can free FF Password
access. Open Chrome, head Exporter from tinyurl.
to the Chrome Web Store com/377projects2a. This is
(tinyurl.com/377projects1) available for Windows,
and install LastPass. You can MacOS and Linux; we
then click on the greyed-out used the Installer
LastPass Extension icon version for Windows.
(a box with three dots and Once installed, FF
cursor-like vertical line) Password Exporter will
to create your LastPass automatically launch and
account, using a long and find your Firefox User
secure password. Profile. If you’ve set a
Once you’ve logged in, the master password for
icon will turn red. Click on Firefox, you’ll need to enter
this, then select Account this in the provided box;
Options, Advanced, Import otherwise, just press the
and then Google Chrome Export Passwords button.
Password Manager. Chrome An Explorer window will
will ask you to use ‘the binary open, allowing you to
version’ of LastPass to import save the resultant CSV
file to a location you can
➡ Firefox has no ability to export remember. We’ll move on
saved passwords, so you’ll need to what to do with this
to use this free tool CSV file in a moment.

ADVANCED PROJECTS
⬆ You’ll also need a separate tool to export passwords from Microsoft’s browsers
Microsoft’s Edge (and Internet Explorer) at least it asks you to enter your Windows Select ‘Generic CSV File’ from the list
is similarly reluctant to export passwords. account password to verify who you are. and then open your CSV file in NotePad
In the case of Microsoft’s browsers, you’ll Once you have a CSV file of passwords, (or a similar text editor); you’ll have to
need a free tool called VaultPasswordView install LastPass on your browser. The easiest right-click and use the ‘Open with’ option
(see tinyurl.com/377projects3). Download the method in most cases is to go to lastpass.com as normally CSV files open as spreadsheets.
zip file and run VaultPasswordView.exe. and click the Get LastPass Free button. Sign Select the entire contents of the file and
The tool will then launch its options page; up to the service and it should automatically copy it (Ctrl-A, Ctrl-C), then paste this into
select your Root Folder (typically C:\) from recognise your browser and launch the the second section of the LastPass Import
the top drop-down menu and then click
Automatic Fill, then enter your Windows
login password and click OK. Highlight all the
entries in the main pane and then click the
LastPass will nag you about your passwords being weak or
Save button. Save the list as a Comma
Separated Values (CSV) file.
repeated and ask you to participate in its Security Challenge
THE OPERA SHOW correct page of its Extensions or Add-ons web page and click Upload. Review the list
Opera has a password-exporting tool built store. We found that Edge preferred to launch shown on the new web page, unticking
in: head to Settings, then click Advanced, the Microsoft Store, where we had to search entries that are missing information, before
scroll to the Passwords and forms section, for LastPass manually; install the LastPass: clicking Import Selected (or Import All if
and click the Passwords option. Find the Free Password Manager version in this case. you want all the entries).
menu button that seems to float between Once the LastPass browser extension is Once imported, do not forget to delete
the Auto sign-in toggle and the list of installed, you’ll see the greyed-out icon in the that CSV file, as it’s an unencrypted list of all
saved passwords; click this and you’ll find top right of your browser window. Click on your login details. To destroy the file, select
the Export Passwords option. Opera will this to log into your account. Then select it and press Shift-Delete on your keyboard.
warn you that it’s about to export your Account Options, Advanced and then Import. Equally, you might have file-shredding
password list as an unencrypted file, but This will load a new browser window. capabilities through your anti-virus software,

ADVANCED PROJECTS
⬆ Opera has the ability to export your passwords, but the tool is slightly hidden
which would do an even more thorough job

of destroying this sensitive data.
ENTER PASSWORD
To test whether your imported passwords
are working, open LastPass and select All
Items, Passwords. Then choose one of the
categories and click one of the entries.
All being well, that web page or service will
load and you’ll be automatically logged in. If
not, you might have to enter your password
manually; the export-import process isn’t
perfect. LastPass does a decent job of putting
all your logins into these categories; our Moo
login was placed under Business (it’s a
business-card printing service), while Netflix
was filed under Entertainment, and Dropbox,
Bit.ly and Doodle were placed in the
Productivity folder. It’s worth going through
the ‘(none)’ folder as unknown websites get
dumped there; click the Edit (pencil) button
for an entry to change its folder.
Pretty soon (if you’re like us), LastPass
will nag you about your passwords being ⬆ It’s a bit convoluted, but importing your passwords from a CSV file is quicker than adding
weak or repeated and ask you to participate all your passwords manually
in its Security Challenge. This is worth doing
as soon as possible, as this tool analyses your The Security Challenge opens a new against known security breaches. If an email
passwords and helps you create stronger browser window, which invites you to press a address has been involved in a data breach,
ones. If you haven’t been nagged (or you button to generate a score for your LastPass will email you details of the breach
were, and you dismissed it too quickly), passwords. Click the button, enter your and advice on creating a new password.
you can run the Security Challenge manually Master Password and wait a few seconds for The Security Challenge breaks down
by opening LastPass, selecting Account LastPass to populate a list of all the email your actions into four priorities – Change
Options and then Security Challenge. accounts it found; this list will be checked Compromised Passwords, Change Weak

ADVANCED PROJECTS
⬆ Organise your saved passwords by clicking the Edit button. You can change the name and folder, and see LastPass’s estimate of how strong your password is
Passwords, Change Reused Passwords and passwords; for others, it can’t. Automatically few minutes, but at least you can walk away
Change Old Passwords – and indicates which updating passwords is a pretty neat trick, as and do something else while waiting.
needs urgent attention via colour coding. it requires LastPass to handle the submission LastPass tries to make manual updates
For some sites and services, LastPass can and authentication of that new password easier by including a button to take you to
automatically update and strengthen your with an external site. That process can take a each site. Once there, you can log in and
open your account. Choose to update your
password and you’ll need to fill in your
current password. You can use the LastPass
icon that now appears on all login boxes if
your password doesn’t automatically appear;
just click the button and then click the
correct suggested entry.
GENERATING NEW PASSWORDS

You can now move to the creation of a new
password. The LastPass icon should appear,
and you can click on that to have LastPass
create a very strong new password
automatically. By default, LastPass will
generate a 12-character jumble of letters and
numbers, but click Show Options and you can
increase that to 99 characters and make the
password easy to read or say, or set whether
to use upper-case, lower-case, numbers or
symbols. We would suggest passwords of 16
characters are sufficient. Passwords that are
⬅ Take the LastPass Security Challenge to check

how strong your passwords are, and which ones
need to be changed urgently

ADVANCED PROJECTS
Pass and go: the LastPass app

The LastPass app works much like the
browser extension, but it can also use any
biometrics that your phone or tablet
includes. That includes using Face ID on
modern iDevices. As you’d expect, the app
walks you through the setup process, and
does a better job than we could do here.
Using LastPass on iOS is easy: just use
your favourite browser as usual, and when
you tap on a login box you’ll see either a
banner to allow you to enter your login
details, or a banner-like button at the top
of the keyboard to do so. You only need to
delve into the app to update passwords or
settings, and that’s a rare event.
On Android, you need to work through
the app all the time. This is because the
app cannot integrate at a fundamental
level, as the iOS app can. The app is
essentially an entire web browser, with the
LastPass extension built in.
Once installed, a useful setting to
change is the Default Site Action: open ⬆ The LastPass app is easy to set up, and allows you to use the fingerprint reader or face detection of
the settings menu, then Settings, Default your phone to enter your super-strong LastPass password
Site Action and Add Copy Notifications.
This makes it easier to enter login details Just as with the iOS LastPass app, your folders as with the browser extension.
as you go. Otherwise, you need to use the Android passwords are presented merely Fortunately, this list is searchable, but it’s
Passwords list, which is unwieldy. as an alphabetical list rather than in useful still a little unwieldy.
➡ LastPass can check for data breaches, where your

login details may have been hacked and published
or sold to fraudsters
easy to read or say might be useful for things

like Netflix, where you’ll still need to type the
password into a TV using a remote control.
As LastPass will manage this jumble of
characters for you, you won’t have to
remember it. Once you’re happy with the
suggested password, click Fill Password.
On some websites, you’ll find that the
LastPass icon doesn’t appear in the New
Password box. In this case, select the new
password field, click the LastPass browser
extension icon and select Generate Secure
Password. This opens the same ‘new
password options’ screen. Once you’re happy,
click Fill Password. A third option is to
right-click a password-entry box and choose
LastPass, Generate Secure Password.
The only slight niggle is that you’ll not
only have to update your login details for the
website, but you’ll need to remember to
update LastPass. It produces a pop-up
window to make this easy, but it’s another
step you’ll have to remember.
NEXT MONTH
BUILD YOUR OWN AI
Google’s AIY Artificial Intelligence kits
are amazingly popular. We show you
how to build your own AI for pocket-
money prices

PARTING SHOTS
Zygote
While scammers, ruthless corporations and unscrupulous landlords may not be able to
rest easily with Zygote on their case, others are getting paid extra for a decent night’s kip
METAL DEFECTOR Manhattan. To get to their like much of a problem, except The Ghanaian cedi was
Norsk Hydro is one of the world’s postbox or to use the lift, they for the fact that 12 of these are supposed to be trading at around
biggest producers of aluminium, need to access the lobby on the marketing cookies operated by 5.50 to the dollar, whereas
with sites in 50 countries. It has ground floor. But the apartment Google, which is able to exploit Google issued all its calculations
been hit by a ransomware attack, owners have just installed a the cookies to cross-reference at a devaluation rate of 400%.
suspected to originate from the so-called smart latch system, data with its own account details So if the pound crashes, it may
notorious LockerGoga gang, and which requires the McKenzies to used for services such as have nothing to do with Brexit,
the company’s boss Ivan Kallevik use a smartphone app to get into searches, mail and Android apps. but a lot to do with the world’s
has rightly refused to cave in to the lobby, and just to make life Gov.uk is the online hub favourite search engine.
the blackmailers’ demands. more interesting they have covering benefits, employment,
A ransomware attack is when blocked up the traditional crime, education, housing, IN YOUR DREAMS
malicious code infects a system keyholes at the same time. disability, tax, births, marriages, The Aetna corporation is the
and encrypts data, which is then Mr McKenzie has lived in the deaths and Brexit, so it is clear leading health insurance broker
held hostage until the ransom building for 45 years, he is 93 to see what huge commercial in the USA, and its management
demand is paid, and in this case years old and he does not have a opportunities there are involving is so concerned about the
refusal to comply is costing smartphone. He has become a millions of online searches wellbeing of its 50,000
Norsk Hydro dear. It has been prisoner in his own home. within the site itself. employees that it pays them a
forced to shut down its global It gets worse. Other tenants Zygote would like an bonus not for working, but for
computer network in a vain using the Wi-Fi-connected latch assurance that gov.uk will sleeping. Not sleeping on the job,
attempt to control the virus, system must agree to their GPS prevent commercial tracking and of course, but sleeping soundly
which means either switching to location being tracked, and allow sensitive facts about a citizen’s in their own beds at night.
manual operations or shutting personal information from their private life from leaking out to Aetna workers are equipped
down factories altogether. phones to be harvested. Google, and would like that with Fitbit wrist monitors, and if
Heavy industry is an obvious Zygote believes location is the assurance declared now. And they report more than seven
target for cyber blackmail, simply key to this sorry saga, and the speaking of Google… hours’ uninterrupted sleep for
because downtime costs millions location is of course Manhattan, more than 20 nights a month,
every day, so executives may be where rent control applies. If the BUCKSTOP then they are rewarded with an
willing to pay up in order to landlords can force geriatric Have you ever received a scam extra $500 in their pay packet.
mitigate their losses. But Zygote tenants to flee because they purporting to be from a Nigerian Fitbit monitoring assumes the
worries about the safety can’t handle the technology, they prince? Then make sure it didn’t wearer is asleep if no movement
implications and risks of can re-let the same apartment come from Google. It started is detected, and it can also detect
environmental catastrophe for a fistful of dollars more. when the Google currency heart-rate patterns to estimate
when such computer-controlled converter widget spontaneously how deep the state of sleep is.
operations fail. It’s hard to be COOKIE MONSTER devalued the Nigerian naira by Zygote applauds this level of
sympathetic to the likes of When our so-called 40% for no apparent reason. trust, and is absolutely sure that
Norsk Hydro, because it is its government’s website was Then it pulled exactly the same not a single Aetna employee
responsibility to maintain cyber analysed by the civil rights trick on the Pakistani rupee. would dream of simply strapping
security, keep multiple backups association European Digital And now it has happened again their Fitbit to a hibernating
and operate failsafe systems to Rights, 20 cookies were in Ghana, whose Minister of hedgehog, or tethering it to a
cope with such attacks. identified. That doesn’t sound Finance is not best pleased. broken alarm clock.
This is in contrast to the
latest ransomware attack
suffered by the Police Federation
of England and Wales, which
represents 120,000 of our boys
and girls in blue. The Federation
has tweeted, “as a precaution
we are contacting our members
and will provide them with
further helpful information”.
Unfortunately the massed plod
haven’t taken this news too well,
mainly because the alert was
posted 11 days after the event.
LATCH KEY KIDDING

Mr and Mrs McKenzie live in
a rented third-floor apartment
at 517 West 45th Street in

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